# Amanda Knox Edinburgh Fringe comedy controversy

> Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/amanda-knox-edinburgh-fringe-comedy-controversy
> Updated: 2026-08-06T09:51:12.000Z. Sources: 57. Developments: 3.

Amanda Knox’s one‑woman show *Cartwheel* opened at the Edinburgh Fringe on 7 August 2026 and ran for 11 sold‑out nights. The performance blends autobiographical material about her 2007 arrest, trial and 2015 acquittal with themes of motherhood, women’s safety and wrongful imprisonment, and states it does not joke about Meredith Kercher’s murder but seeks to honour her memory.

Meredith Kercher’s sister, Stephanie Kercher, condemned the production as “normalising and trivialising violence against women” and appealed to Andy Burnham, the mayor of Manchester, to intervene. A petition to cancel the show gathered between 2,400 and 5,000 signatures. Italian lawyer Francesco Maresca called the show “offensive and deplorable.”

Fringe organisers and the Gilded Balloon venue reiterated that the festival does not curate individual works and will not cancel the show. Festival director Tony Lancaster said the Fringe is “not afraid of controversy” and will allow the performance to proceed. Knox defended the show on Instagram, asserting it “honours Meredith Kercher’s memory and calls out the violence that was done to her and to me.” Former boyfriend Raffaele Sollecito also commented publicly.

The dispute continues to fuel debate over freedom of expression, the use of true‑crime material in the arts, and the lasting impact of the case.

## Claims

- Amanda Knox is performing a solo comedy show titled “Cartwheel” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe in August 2026, running for 11 days. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Stephanie Kercher, sister of Meredith Kercher, publicly condemned the show, calling it a trivialisation of violence against women. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- A petition against the show has gathered more than 2,400 signatures. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- Stephanie Kercher appealed to UK Labour leader Andy Burnham to intervene and stop the show. (corroborated by 5 sources)
- The show is described as about motherhood and wrongful imprisonment, and Knox says it “honors Meredith Kercher’s memory.” (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Amanda Knox was convicted in 2009 for the murder of Meredith Kercher, served nearly four years, and was acquitted by Italy’s highest court in 2015. (corroborated by 4 sources)
- Edinburgh Fringe organisers said they do not curate works and have no plans to cancel the show. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- The show focuses on the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Perugia, Italy. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Stephanie Kercher, sister of Meredith Kercher, expressed outrage, calling the comedy show shocking and accusing Knox of profiting from her sister’s name. (corroborated by 3 sources)
- Meredith Kercher was a 21‑year‑old British exchange student murdered in Perugia in 2007. (corroborated by 3 sources)

## Timeline

### 2026-08-06: Amanda Knox's Edinburgh Fringe comedy show sparks family backlash

Amanda Knox’s Edinburgh Fringe comedy show “Cartwheel” faces backlash from Meredith Kercher’s sister, who says it trivialises violence; Knox defends it as an homage.

40 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/amanda-knoxs-edinburgh-fringe-show-draws-backlash-over-meredith-kercher-murder

### 2026-08-03: Amanda Knox Sparks Outcry with Edinburgh Comedy Show on Kercher Murder

Amanda Knox will stage a comedy show titled “Cartwheel” at the Edinburgh Fringe, recounting her imprisonment over the 2007 Meredith Kercher murder; the victim’s family called the project a deplorable offense.

4 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/amanda-knox-sparks-outcry-with-edinburgh-comedy-show-on-kercher-murder

### 2026-08-01: Amanda Knox debuts Edinburgh Fringe comedy show, drawing criticism from victim's family

Amanda Knox will perform her stand‑up show Cartwheel at the Edinburgh Fringe, saying she won’t joke about Meredith Kercher’s death, while the victim’s family calls the act offensive.

15 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/amanda-knox-to-debut-comedy-show-at-edinburgh-fringe-on-her-wrongful-imprisonment

---
Cite as: Amanda Knox Edinburgh Fringe comedy controversy. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/amanda-knox-edinburgh-fringe-comedy-controversy