I saw the Amanda Knox show everyone is furious about. It floored me

Amanda Knox, the former American student who was wrongfully imprisoned for the 2007 murder of British exchange student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy, is set to perform a stand-up comedy show at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. The show, titled Cartwheel, will explore her experience during the trial and subsequent years of legal battle, which ultimately led to her acquittal in 2015. Knox, now 39, resides on Vashon-Maury Island in rural Washington and is married with two children. Knox and her then-boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, were initially arrested and convicted in 2009 for the murder and sexual assault of Kercher. They maintained their innocence throughout the proceedings, arguing that Rudy Hermann Guede, another suspect, was the sole perpetrator. After years of appeals and legal challenges, Italy’s highest court overturned the convictions in 2015, clearing Knox and Sollecito of all charges. Despite this, the case remained highly controversial, drawing international attention and media scrutiny. Knox had originally intended to focus her comedy show on themes related to motherhood. However, she was encouraged by fellow comedians to address the central issue of her wrongful imprisonment. The show's title, Cartwheel, refers to a widely circulated claim that she performed cartwheels while in custody following Kercher’s death, a story she has neither confirmed nor denied. In interviews, Knox has emphasized that while she does not shy away from discussing her experiences, she refuses to make light of Kercher’s death. In a conversation with The Telegraph, Knox stated that she believes certain subjects are fair game for humor, but she draws clear boundaries. “I don’t joke about Meredith’s death,” she said. “I joke a lot about how I was vilified, but I don’t joke about her murder. That’s just a line for me.” She noted that some comedians have proposed jokes she would refuse to perform, underscoring her commitment to maintaining personal limits. Knox acknowledged concerns from her loved ones regarding potential backlash against the show. She referenced a comedic line she plans to deliver: “My friends and family are actually really nervous for me, despite my spotless record in the court of public opinion.” Meanwhile, Kercher’s relatives, through their lawyer Francesco Maresca, have described the show as “offensive and deplorable.” Despite this, Knox expressed hope for dialogue with the family, stating that she has never been able to communicate directly with them since the tragedy. “Something that is an unresolved wound for me is the fact that I have never been able to talk to them,” she said. “I assume they still assume that I’m guilty. I would very much want to establish that kind of communication, but I’m not going to have my life dictated by what they want for me.” Knox also reflected on the shared grief between herself and Kercher’s family. “We share a grief, and we both knew a real person who died, and who primarily belongs to them, but I’m a person too. I have the life that I has lived, and I have the right to tell my own story, and Meredith is a big part of that story. And I think I honour her.” She added that she believes Kercher would have appreciated the show, noting its honesty and its exploration of what it means to be a young woman. Knox has previously shared her story through documentaries, an eight-part TV drama co-produced with Monica Lewinsky, and several books. Meanwhile, Guede, who was convicted of Kercher’s murder in 2008, was released from prison in 2021 after serving 13 years of a 16-year sentence.