Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

Yeah, so inspired by it. So I remember when I, did you follow the story of Dominique Strauss-Kahn? I didn't actually.

Yeah, so inspired by it. So I remember when I, did you follow the story of Dominique Strauss-Kahn? I didn't actually.

It was big in the UK. Yeah. It was big in Europe. Yes, and in the US. I mean, until the case was dropped. So this woman who was from Guinea and who walked as a hotel housekeeper accused him of raping her. So she walks into the room to clean it and there's a naked white man running toward her. And I remember when I first heard about it, I was just riveted by it. And it was also very melodramatic.

It was big in the UK. Yeah. It was big in Europe. Yes, and in the US. I mean, until the case was dropped. So this woman who was from Guinea and who walked as a hotel housekeeper accused him of raping her. So she walks into the room to clean it and there's a naked white man running toward her. And I remember when I first heard about it, I was just riveted by it. And it was also very melodramatic.

He was arrested. He was already inside the plane about to fly to Paris, where he would then have started his campaign for president. It was almost a done deal that he was going to be the next French president. Wow. And so he's arrested and Americans, as is their want, did this very dramatic thing of parading him in front of journalists, which I hate. The perp walk. I think it's a terrible thing.

He was arrested. He was already inside the plane about to fly to Paris, where he would then have started his campaign for president. It was almost a done deal that he was going to be the next French president. Wow. And so he's arrested and Americans, as is their want, did this very dramatic thing of parading him in front of journalists, which I hate. The perp walk. I think it's a terrible thing.

Why? Because I think, especially when it comes to sexual assault cases, we really have to be very careful to get it right. Because the world is so deeply immersed in misogyny that there are people looking for the smallest reason to discredit a sexual assault case.

Why? Because I think, especially when it comes to sexual assault cases, we really have to be very careful to get it right. Because the world is so deeply immersed in misogyny that there are people looking for the smallest reason to discredit a sexual assault case.

And so you imagine the misogynist just aching to say things like, see, this is wrong. We don't know if he did it or not. You're already parading him. I wish they had kept it very quiet. I wish they had gone to court. I wish they had found him guilty. I wish they had publicized the evidence. That would have made me very happy because then I think the story would have ended differently. But anyway.

And so you imagine the misogynist just aching to say things like, see, this is wrong. We don't know if he did it or not. You're already parading him. I wish they had kept it very quiet. I wish they had gone to court. I wish they had found him guilty. I wish they had publicized the evidence. That would have made me very happy because then I think the story would have ended differently. But anyway.

So he's arrested and he's let out on bail. And then we're all kind of looking forward to the trial. And then at some point, the case is dropped. And the case is dropped because they said she had lied on her asylum application. And I just remember thinking, I was just shocked. I really was. I almost couldn't believe it. And also just the way that his lawyers talked about her.

So he's arrested and he's let out on bail. And then we're all kind of looking forward to the trial. And then at some point, the case is dropped. And the case is dropped because they said she had lied on her asylum application. And I just remember thinking, I was just shocked. I really was. I almost couldn't believe it. And also just the way that his lawyers talked about her.

They just kept repeating liar and lied, lied, liar. And for the average person watching this, your assumption is going to be that she lied about what had happened. And I think this was also very, I think they deliberately did that. Yeah. But in fact, they said she lied about her asylum.

They just kept repeating liar and lied, lied, liar. And for the average person watching this, your assumption is going to be that she lied about what had happened. And I think this was also very, I think they deliberately did that. Yeah. But in fact, they said she lied about her asylum.

And my thinking is what we're saying to women is if you ever expect to get justice for sexual assault, then you better be perfect. You better be sinless, which therefore means you better not be human because we're all flawed. I found it really... I felt hurt, actually. And also very angry. So I wrote this very angry essay. Non-fiction. Very blunt. Which was, you know, my point was, this is bad.

And my thinking is what we're saying to women is if you ever expect to get justice for sexual assault, then you better be perfect. You better be sinless, which therefore means you better not be human because we're all flawed. I found it really... I felt hurt, actually. And also very angry. So I wrote this very angry essay. Non-fiction. Very blunt. Which was, you know, my point was, this is bad.

And I think I framed it in... A kind of America is not like Nigeria, not like Guinea. In Guinea and Nigeria, the big man would probably not be arrested at all. So that America did this was wonderful. I felt very heartened by it. But America has disappointed me and in some ways has failed this woman. But I didn't think I would write fiction about her. I didn't plan to.

And I think I framed it in... A kind of America is not like Nigeria, not like Guinea. In Guinea and Nigeria, the big man would probably not be arrested at all. So that America did this was wonderful. I felt very heartened by it. But America has disappointed me and in some ways has failed this woman. But I didn't think I would write fiction about her. I didn't plan to.

So when I started writing this novel, again, a character came to me. And so I think it means that even without knowing it, I carried her with me. And then suddenly, something drops into your life and changes it forever. For me, there was just a great sadness there. Like I felt... Yeah, I felt so upset on her behalf.

So when I started writing this novel, again, a character came to me. And so I think it means that even without knowing it, I carried her with me. And then suddenly, something drops into your life and changes it forever. For me, there was just a great sadness there. Like I felt... Yeah, I felt so upset on her behalf.