EDINBURGH — Amanda Knox is set to perform a comedy show titled "Cartwheel" at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, drawing sharp criticism from the sister of Meredith Kercher and prompting an online petition. The performance has become a focal point for debate over the boundaries of comedy and the treatment of victims in high-profile criminal cases.

The show is scheduled to run for 11 days starting on a Friday. According to the festival's website, "Cartwheel" focuses on motherhood and how Knox explains her past experiences to her daughter. The title references a report that Knox performed cartwheels at a police station following Meredith Kercher's death.

Stephanie Kercher, the sister of the murder victim, Breakfast that her sister Meredith "wouldn't find these topics of any comedy value". She that the show "normalizes and trivializes violence against women." Her comments have galvanized opposition to the performance among those who feel the subject matter is inappropriate for a comedy venue.

Stephanie Kercher: "It’s not about whether people think she’s guilty or innocent, if someone else was doing the show specifically against Meredith, I would still feel the same, it is obviously an added wound that it’s coming from her at the same time, but I do feel very strongly that it should be something that’s not given a platform." She urged Prime Minister Andy Burnham to explore the issue and said she would like to meet him.

An online petition against the show states that it disrespects Meredith Kercher's memory and risks normalizing violence against women. The petition states that the performance mocks the horrific events surrounding Meredith’s murder and aims to somehow turn this tragedy into entertainment. A petition against the show was established by a friend of Meredith Kercher. The petition against the show has been signed by more than 4,500 people.

Knox responded to the criticism in a series of statements on social media. She stated in an Instagram post: "I don't joke about Meredith's death. I joke a lot about how I was vilified, but I don't joke about her murder." Knox framed the performance as a response to the media narrative that surrounded her legal battles rather than the crime itself.

Knox stated in an Instagram post that the show "honors Meredith Kercher’s memory and calls out the violence that was done to her and to me." A spokesperson for Knox said the show honors Meredith Kercher's memory. He stated in an Instagram post: "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." She added: "The Edinburgh Fringe is the perfect place for a show like this."

The controversy recalls the complex legal history between the two women. Meredith Kercher was found stabbed to death on November 2, 2007, in her bedroom in Perugia, Italy. Knox was convicted and later acquitted of murdering her British roommate, Meredith Kercher, in Italy in 2007. Knox served nearly four years in prison during the investigation and initial trials.

Knox returned to the United States in 2011 after being freed by an appeals court in Perugia. Knox and Raffaele Sollecito were acquitted by Italy’s highest court in 2015. Rudy Hermann Guede was convicted of murder after his DNA was found at the crime scene. Rudy Hermann Guede was freed in 2021 after serving most of his 16-year sentence.

Since her return to the United States, Knox has built a career as an author and media personality. Knox published a memoir titled "Free: My Search for Meaning" last year. Knox has a podcast with her husband. The current dispute shows the enduring public interest in the case and the differing views on how its participants should be allowed to tell their stories.

The dispute over "Cartwheel" centers on conflicting views of victimization and public narrative. Stephanie Kercher argues that the show trivializes violence against women, while Knox contends it exposes the harm caused by false accusations. The petition, with more than 4,500 signatories, demonstrates significant public engagement with the ethical questions raised by the performance.

The involvement of political figures, including Stephanie Kercher's request to meet Prime Minister Andy Burnham, indicates the issue has extended beyond cultural commentary into potential policy discussions. The case remains a reference point for debates on media ethics, judicial error, and the rights of those involved in high-profile crimes to shape their own public identities.

Why It Matters

The dispute shows the conflict between a participant's right to narrate their legal ordeal and a victim's family's objection to trivializing violence. With over 4,400 petition signatories arguing the show disrespects Meredith Kercher's memory, the controversy tests boundaries for comedy regarding high-profile criminal cases. Knox maintains the performance addresses her own vilification rather than the murder itself, framing the festival as a venue for such discourse.