Yahoo Movies Amanda Knox calls out 'Stillwater' director for 'fictionalizing away my innocence'
Amanda Knox is speaking out about her name being associated with the new "Stillwater" film.
The 34-year-old journalist became a household name after being convicted and imprisoned, but ultimately acquitted for the sexual assault and 2007 murder of her roommate in Perugia, Italy. Knox's story sparked media attention over the past decade and most recently was quoted by director Tom McCarthy as the inspiration behind his new film "Stillwater" (in theaters Friday), starring Matt Damon.
Knox posted a thread on Twitter Thursday, calling out publications and McCarthy for using her name to promote the movie.
"Does my name belong to me? My face? What about my life? My story?" Knox wrote. "I return to these questions because others continue to profit off my name, face, & story without my consent."
USA TODAY has reached out to McCarthy's reps for comment.
Does my name belong to me? My face? What about my life? My story? Why does my name refer to events I had no hand in? I return to these questions because others continue to profit off my name, face, & story without my consent. Most recently, the film #STILLWATER.
/ a thread— Amanda Knox (@amandaknox) July 29, 2021
"Stillwater" stars Damon, who plays a former Oklahoma oil roughneck named Bill who desperately tries to help his estranged daughter, Allison (Abigail Breslin), who has been convicted of murdering her girlfriend in Marseille, France. Allison claims innocence in the allegations made against her and her dad Bill moves overseas to help find the actual killer.
McCarthy told Vanity Fair in an interview published Thursday that though his film was initially inspired by Knox's story, he later decided to "leave the Amanda Knox case behind" and instead take what he called a "piece of the story."
McCarthy described the piece he referenced as "an American woman studying abroad involved in some kind of sensational crime and she ends up in jail — and fictionalize everything around it."
Knox said McCarthy's fictionalization is harmful to her reputation.
"By fictionalizing away my innocence, my total lack of involvement, by erasing the role of the authorities in my wrongful conviction, McCarthy reinforces an image of me as a guilty and untrustworthy person," Knox wrote.
Knox said she forgives the director and states that McCarthy had no "obligation" to consult her on his film but invites the idea of them having a conversation.
"I bet we could have a fascinating conversation about identity, and public perception, and who should get to exploit a name, face, and story that has entered the public imagination," she wrote.
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: 'Stillwater': Amanda Knox calls out director for 'fictionalization'
