The publication of a controversial memoir by American journalist Olivia Nuzzi has ignited a storm of mockery and a surprising defence from public figures, including Monica Lewinsky, in a week that also saw a new royal documentary and a minor earthquake in northern England.
Memoir Mockery and Unexpected Defenders
This week saw the release of American Canto, the hastily written memoir by former New York magazine journalist Olivia Nuzzi. The book details her romantic feelings for Robert F Kennedy Jr, the former US presidential candidate and now health minister in Donald Trump's administration, which developed while she was profiling him. A particular sentence describing her "favourite parts of his chest" became a focal point for widespread derision in the press.
As the mockery reached a peak on Monday, a number of defenders rallied to Nuzzi's side. Monica Lewinsky, who has become a prominent voice on public shaming, privately reached out to the author to offer her sympathy. Author Lisa Taddeo praised the work on Instagram as a "scintillating love story," though her own lengthy post appeared influenced by Nuzzi's distinctive prose style.
Observers suggest Nuzzi, a respected writer before this episode, fell victim to a perfect storm of a tight deadline, the pressure of a book deal, and an attempt to elevate a personally awkward story with overly elaborate writing.
Dimbleby's Dickensian Take on the Monarchy
In a shift from transatlantic scandal, the BBC this week aired the first episode of David Dimbleby's new series, What's the Monarchy For?. The veteran broadcaster, now 87, brought a rakish and slyly mischievous energy to the sceptical examination of the royal institution.
The programme featured Dimbleby teasing former Prime Minister David Cameron by impersonating the late Queen Elizabeth II to question the wisdom of calling the Brexit referendum. He also suggested King Charles's signature resembles the name "Mary" and grinned at accusations of being part of the establishment himself. While questioning the monarchy's value, the series, at least initially, seems to foster a familiar warmth towards "the firm," exemplified by an anecdote of the Queen hiding from Nicolae Ceaușescu.
A Tremor in the North and Starmer's Lucky Seat
Residents of Lancashire and the southern Lake District experienced a minor earthquake on Thursday, registering a magnitude of 3.3. The event provided the classic British experience of shared surprise and anecdote-swapping, with CCTV footage from a Lancashire car park capturing a brief camera shake and a light flicking on in a house.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer enjoyed a rare moment of favourable fortune during a German state banquet at Windsor Castle. He was photographed beaming after being seated next to 1990s supermodel Claudia Schiffer, a seating arrangement widely interpreted as a welcome break from the pressures of his troubled premiership.
Cultural Boycott in the Emirates
In related cultural news, novelist R.F. Kuang withdrew from the Emirates Airline Festival of Literature following a call from the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement. The movement, urging a boycott of the United Arab Emirates over allegations of supplying weapons in the Sudan conflict, prompted Kuang to pull out, stating her respect for such organised cultural boycotts. The decision raised questions about why liberal western writers agree to participate in festivals hosted by nations with records on human rights and free expression that conflict with their stated values.
