Amanda Knox's controversial Fringe show 'Cartwheel' has been described as "profoundly respectful" by audience members, despite claims it "trivialises" violence against women. The show, which premiered at the Edinburgh Fringe on Friday night, has drawn both criticism and praise.
Background of the case
Knox was falsely imprisoned over the murder of British student Meredith Kercher in 2007. She was convicted in 2009 of murder and sexual assault alongside her then-boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito, but was eventually cleared in 2015.
The show's title references a rumour that Knox did cartwheels at a police station after Kercher's death. More than 6,000 people signed a petition calling for the show to be cancelled, and Kercher's sister said it "normalises and trivialises violence against women".
Audience reactions
However, audience members leaving the show on Friday night offered a different perspective. One man, who wished to remain anonymous, said Knox "has every right to tell her story and to deal with her own grief and pain". He added: "She was profoundly respectful to the victim of the crime. She said that she never got the chance to express her own grief about what had happened, because as soon as the crime had happened, she was put in this position of having to defend herself."
Nigel, a man in his 60s from London, found the show "really authentic" and said Knox "came across as quite powerful and carried the room". He noted that "there was a lot of clapping and standing at the end, and a lot of laughter all the way through".
Another audience member from Glasgow said the show is more about storytelling than comedy: "I was a wee bit hesitant about going along because I knew that there was controversy, and I understand Meredith Kercher's family being concerned – I've got total sympathy for that – but having seen the show, there's nothing in that show that is, you know, like offensive or demeaning to Kercher."
Emotional moments
A woman from Edinburgh said the show was emotional and nearly moved her to tears, particularly when Knox spoke about her friend and flatmate Meredith. "It was a very small part of the show, but it was basically the guilt that she actually feels about being here," she said.
In a statement on Instagram, Knox addressed the controversy: "Cartwheel is a show about motherhood, raising a daughter in a world that is unfair and dangerous for women, and what it costs to be the kind of mother who tells her the truth about that. Neither the author of this petition nor anyone who signed it has seen Cartwheel. The petition contains many false assumptions and completely mischaracterises the show. Cartwheel honours Meredith Kercher's memory and calls out the violence that was done to her and to me."
