Amanda Knox, the American woman whose conviction for the 2007 murder of British student Meredith Kercher in Italy was overturned, premiered a one-woman comedy show titled *Cartwheel* at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival on Friday. The show, which has drawn both sold-out audiences and criticism, features Knox using humor to reflect on her experience, including her time in prison.

During the hour-long performance, Knox made remarks that some viewed as making light of the tragic case. On stage, designed to resemble a child’s bedroom, she opened with a quip apologizing for the set looking like “a crime scene.” She also referenced the animated film *Chicken Run* when describing her imprisonment, likening herself to a hen plotting an escape, and joked about the concept of “acquittal greeting cards” as a new niche market. Knox recounted a prison guard making her watch the film *The Shawshank Redemption*, a movie about wrongful imprisonment and escape. These elements were met with applause from the audience.

Knox has defended her approach, stating that the show honors Meredith Kercher’s memory and highlights the violence both women experienced. She shared on social media after the premiere that her debut was “not all bad” and posted a smiling selfie with her young son.

However, the show has sparked controversy and opposition, particularly from Kercher’s family and friends. Meredith’s sister, Stephanie Kercher, spoke out on a television program, urging Knox to consider the impact on the victim’s family and suggesting Knox imagine the situation if it had been her own sister. Meredith’s friend Sally Alington also initiated a petition calling for the cancellation of *Cartwheel*, describing the performances as “hurtful.”

Further criticism came from Knox’s former boyfriend, Raffaele Sollecito, who was also wrongfully accused and later acquitted in the same murder case. Sollecito described the use of the tragedy as “a draw for a comedy show” as perplexing and expressed discomfort with Knox’s comedic treatment of the events.

*Cartwheel* is scheduled to run for 11 nights at the festival, continuing amid ongoing debate about the appropriateness of its content given the sensitive nature of the case. The conflicting reactions highlight the complex legacy of the Kercher murder trial and its lasting emotional impact on those involved.