Fury has sparked concerning Amanda Knox’s involvement in a stand-up show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, with critics denouncing the decision as offensive and insensitive.
Knox, aged 38, is set to present her show ‘Cartwheel’ at the renowned festival in August, which is expected to touch upon the murder investigation that implicated her in the death of British student Meredith Kercher.
Kercher, a 21-year-old from Croydon, South London, was discovered deceased in 2007 at the residence she shared with Knox in Perugia, Italy, a case that captured global attention and dominated headlines for years.
Knox and her then-partner, Raffaele Sollecito, were initially found guilty of the crime before being acquitted later, with Italy’s highest court granting a final acquittal in 2015. Rudy Guede served a 16-year sentence for the murder.
The decision by Knox to venture into comedy and possibly reference the case has incited outrage, particularly from individuals connected to Kercher’s family, as reported by The Sun.
Francesco Maresca, their lawyer, criticized the show as offensive and disrespectful to Meredith’s memory, expressing disappointment that Knox seems oblivious to the emotional impact her actions have had on the victim’s loved ones.
The show’s title is believed to allude to the cartwheels Knox performed while awaiting questioning during the investigation, a detail that garnered worldwide attention at the time and has now reignited anger.
The Edinburgh Festival Fringe, established in 1947, is the largest arts festival globally, attracting numerous performers and millions of visitors annually. Known for its inclusive format, it has historically been a platform for avant-garde, controversial, and boundary-pushing acts.
Currently residing in the US with her husband and two children, Knox began exploring comedy last year and previously opened for Nikki Glaser in front of an audience of 3,000.
Despite not receiving payment for her Fringe appearance, criticism continues to mount, with many questioning the appropriateness of turning such a high-profile case into comedic material.
Organizers at Gilded Balloon, the festival venue, have yet to comment publicly on the controversy.
Knox’s foray into comedy follows a recent event in London where fans were offered the opportunity to join her and her husband, Christopher Robinson, for screenings of her documentary on the murder trial, a move that unsettled the Kercher family when the documentary was unexpectedly pulled.
During her stay in London, it was revealed that Knox had corresponded with baby killer Lucy Letby in prison and had sent her a copy of her book, expressing a desire to meet or speak with Letby. Amanda and her husband are currently developing a podcast focusing on Letby.
