Amanda Knox Asserts Festival Performance Pays Tribute to Slain Roommate

WHO:

AP - Amanda Knox is now 39 years old.

ABC News - Amanda Knox, the American student convicted and later acquitted of the murder of Meredith Kercher, is performing at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

ABC News - Meredith Kercher's sister, Stephanie Kercher, criticized Knox's show.

ABC News - Raffaele Sollecito, Knox's boyfriend at the time of the murder, was also involved in the case.

ABC News - Rudy Hermann Guede, from the Ivory Coast, was convicted of murder in the case.

WHAT:

Deadline - An online petition calling for the cancellation of Knox's show has surpassed 10,000 signatures.

CNN - The petition states, “Together, we can uphold the values of empathy and respect, ensuring that tragedy is not trivialized in the name of entertainment.”

The Guardian - The Edinburgh festival fringe has stated it is “not afraid of controversy” after facing calls to cancel Knox's show.

CNN - An online petition calling for the cancellation of Knox's show has surpassed 10,000 signatories.

The Guardian - Knox's show is described as a one-woman piece exploring themes of motherhood.

CNN - An online petition calling for the cancellation of Knox's show has garnered more than 9,500 signatories.

CNN - The petition states, “Together, we can uphold the values of empathy and respect, ensuring that tragedy is not trivialized in the name of entertainment.”

CNN - An online petition calling for the cancellation of Knox's show has garnered more than 9,500 signatories.

CNN - The petition states, “Together, we can uphold the values of empathy and respect, ensuring that tragedy is not trivialized in the name of entertainment.”

ABC News - Knox's show “Cartwheel” is debuting on a Friday evening and is due to run for 11 straight nights at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

ABC News - Knox stated that the Edinburgh Fringe festival “is the perfect place for a show like this.”

ABC News - Knox's show “Cartwheel” is a reference to a story that claimed she did cartwheels in the police station after Kercher's death.

ABC News - Knox stated that “a petition to cancel a show no one has seen, on the grounds of false accusations intended to shame and vilify a wronged woman into silence, is not an argument against Cartwheel.”

ABC News - The online petition against Knox's show states that it “mocks the horrific events surrounding Meredith’s murder and aims to somehow turn this tragedy into entertainment.”

AP - Knox's show “Cartwheel” is being marketed as a woman “approaching forty, juggling motherhood and finally getting around to being furious about the whole wrongful-imprisonment thing.”

ABC News - Knox is defending her comedy show titled “Cartwheel,” claiming it honors Meredith Kercher’s memory.

ABC News - The show is set to run for 11 straight nights at the Edinburgh Fringe festival.

ABC News - An online petition calling for the cancellation of the show has garnered more than 4,400 signatories.

WHERE:

ABC News - The Edinburgh Fringe festival is taking place in Scotland.

WHEN:

ABC News - Knox's show “Cartwheel” is debuting on a Friday evening and will run for 11 nights.

WHY:

CNN - Stephanie Kercher expressed that “for a lot of people, Meredith’s murder is a part of cult history, something that happened decades ago,” emphasizing the ongoing pain for her family and friends.

The Guardian - Stephanie Kercher stated, “the problem with this particular project is that it is comedy” and expressed that it should not be given a platform.

CNN - Stephanie Kercher expressed that the show “normalizes and trivializes violence against women” and should not be given a platform.

ABC News - Stephanie Kercher expressed that the problem with Knox's show is that “it is comedy” and should not be given a platform.

AP - Stephanie Kercher stated that the problem with Knox's show is that “it is comedy” and expressed that it should not be given a platform.

ABC News - Knox stated that her show “honors Meredith Kercher’s memory and calls out the violence that was done to her and to me.”

ABC News - Stephanie Kercher expressed that the show “normalizes and trivializes violence against women” and should not be given a platform.

HOW:

The Guardian - Tony Lankester, the director of the Fringe Society, stated, “We’re not afraid of controversy. The decision as to whether or not [the show] goes ahead lies with herself and it lies with the venue.”

Deadline - Knox stated that she is still struggling to tell her own story nearly 20 years after being falsely accused of killing her roommate.

CNN - The venue, Gilded Balloon, described the festival as “open-access” and emphasized its commitment to freedom of expression.

ABC News - Knox described the petition against her show as “false accusations intended to shame and vilify a wronged woman into silence.”

AP - Knox described the petition against her show as “false accusations intended to shame and vilify a wronged woman into silence.”

ABC News - Knox is using comedy as a medium to address her wrongful imprisonment and the violence she experienced.

(UPDATED August 8, 2026 04:06 UTC)

An online petition calling for the cancellation of Knox's show has gained significant traction, surpassing 10,000 signatures. The petition emphasizes the importance of upholding values of empathy and respect, stating that tragedy should not be trivialized for entertainment purposes. In response to the controversy, Tony Lankester, the director of the Fringe Society, affirmed that the decision about the show ultimately rests with Knox and the venue, highlighting their stance of not shying away from controversy.

(UPDATED August 8, 2026 00:42 UTC)

An online petition calling for the cancellation of Knox's show has gained over 10,000 signatures, as the performance is described as a one-woman piece exploring themes of motherhood. Stephanie Kercher criticized the project, stating, “the problem with this particular project is that it is comedy” and argued it should not be given a platform. Knox, on the other hand, has expressed that she is still grappling with her own narrative nearly 20 years after being falsely accused of killing her roommate.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 23:28 UTC)

An online petition calling for the cancellation of Knox's show has gained over 9,500 signatures, with supporters stating that they aim to uphold values of empathy and respect to prevent tragedy from being trivialized for entertainment. Stephanie Kercher has voiced concerns that the show normalizes and trivializes violence against women, arguing it should not be given a platform. Meanwhile, the venue, Gilded Balloon, has described the festival as “open-access” and highlighted its commitment to freedom of expression.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 21:35 UTC)

An online petition urging the cancellation of Knox's show has attracted over 9,500 signatories, with supporters stating, “Together, we can uphold the values of empathy and respect, ensuring that tragedy is not trivialized in the name of entertainment.” The venue, Gilded Balloon, has characterized the festival as “open-access” and highlighted its dedication to freedom of expression. This situation has sparked a significant conversation about the balance between artistic freedom and sensitivity to tragedy.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 16:46 UTC)

Knox's new show, “Cartwheel,” is set to debut at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, running for 11 consecutive nights, and she believes the festival is the ideal venue for it. However, Stephanie Kercher has raised concerns, stating that the show, being comedy, should not be given a platform. In response to a petition against her, Knox called the accusations “false accusations intended to shame and vilify a wronged woman into silence.”

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 12:40 UTC)

ABC News reports that Amanda Knox's new show, titled "Cartwheel," references a story claiming she did cartwheels in the police station following Meredith Kercher's death. Knox defended the show, stating that a petition to cancel it, based on false accusations meant to silence her, does not constitute a valid argument against "Cartwheel." Meanwhile, Stephanie Kercher criticized the show, emphasizing that it is a comedy and should not be given a platform.

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 11:43 UTC)

Amanda Knox has turned 39, and her new show titled “Cartwheel” is being promoted as a story about a woman approaching forty who is juggling motherhood while grappling with her feelings about her wrongful imprisonment. However, Stephanie Kercher has criticized the show, stating that it is “comedy” and believes it should not receive a platform. In response, Knox has called the petition against her show “false accusations intended to shame and vilify a wronged woman into silence.”

(UPDATED August 7, 2026 09:50 UTC)

Amanda Knox is currently performing her comedy show titled “Cartwheel” at the Edinburgh Fringe festival, where she claims the show honors the memory of Meredith Kercher, the woman she was convicted of murdering before being acquitted. However, the show has faced criticism from Stephanie Kercher, who argues that it trivializes violence against women, and an online petition calling for its cancellation has already gathered over 4,400 signatures. Knox's performance is set to run for 11 consecutive nights, using humor to address her wrongful imprisonment and the violence she endured.