The name John Bobbitt is instantly recognizable, forever linked to one of the most sensationalized news stories of the 1990s. For many, the narrative surrounding John Bobbitt is solely focused on “it,” as his former wife, Lorena Bobbitt, pointedly refers to the part of his anatomy that became a global spectacle. The media frenzy, particularly before societal shifts like the Women’s March and the rise of the #MeToo movement, fixated on the detached and reattached penis, and later, its surgical enlargement. Lorena Bobbitt recalls the media’s relentless focus, lamenting, “And it’s like they all missed or didn’t care why I did what I did.”
Lorena Bobbitt’s frustration is rooted in a crucial, often overlooked fact: before she faced trial for her actions, John Bobbitt was charged with marital sexual assault. While he was ultimately acquitted, this charge highlights the complex context surrounding the infamous incident. In the early 1990s, marital rape was a newly recognized crime in all U.S. states, and proving it in Virginia, where the Bobbitts resided, was exceptionally challenging. Indeed, even media outlets like Ladies’ Home Journal and The New Yorker, through writer Gay Talese, questioned the very concept of marital rape. Satirical portrayals, such as Al Franken’s Stuart Smalley character on Saturday Night Live, even trivialized Lorena’s actions, urging her to apologize to John Bobbitt’s penis.
It’s also frequently forgotten that Lorena Bobbitt was found not guilty by reason of temporary insanity. Numerous witnesses at her trial corroborated her claims of abuse, testifying to seeing bruises on her body and her repeated 911 calls. Furthermore, accounts emerged of John Bobbitt bragging to friends about coercing his wife into sexual acts. Disturbingly, John Bobbitt’s post-trial history includes multiple arrests and jail time for violence against other women, further underscoring a pattern of behavior. (He consistently denied these allegations.) Lorena Bobbitt powerfully stated, “This is about a victim and a survivor and this is about what’s happening in our world today,” emphasizing the broader implications of her case.
This narrative is central to “Lorena,” a four-part documentary produced by Jordan Peele, which premiered on Amazon Prime Video on February 15th. The documentary aims to reframe the John Bobbitt saga, giving Lorena Bobbitt the opportunity to share her story and shed light on the issues of domestic violence and sexual assault that were overshadowed by the sensationalism of the media. For Lorena, it’s a chance to move beyond the caricature she became and to advocate for other survivors through her nonprofit, Lorena’s Red Wagon, while also supporting her daughter.
Twenty-six years after the incident that catapulted Lorena Bobbitt, then a 24-year-old, into global infamy, her name remains etched in popular culture. References to Lorena Bobbitt can be found in works ranging from a Philip Roth novel to Eminem lyrics, demonstrating the enduring, albeit often superficial, impact of the case. Today, Lorena Bobbitt, using her maiden name, has transformed her life. She is described as petite and stylish, a 49-year-old suburban mother dedicated to her advocacy work. Despite the physical changes and the passage of time, those who meet Lorena in Manassas, Virginia, the epicenter of the events, still recognize her as that Lorena. When asked why she remained in Manassas, Lorena Bobbitt’s response is resolute: “I live here. This is my home. Why should he have the last laugh?” Her decision to stay and rebuild her life underscores her resilience and her commitment to reclaiming her narrative from the sensationalism that once defined it.
