*The following article contains discussion of sexual assault.
Pamela Anderson has been busy.
In Spring 2022, she made her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart for an eight-week run in the Tony Award-winning musical Chicago. Now she's hustling both her currently-streaming Netflix documentary Pamela: A Love Story and her memoir Love, Pamela which is available in bookstores now.
While Anderson reflects in both her documentary and memoir on some of the mistakes she made in the past, it seems a controversial statement she made about Harvey Weinstein's sexual assault victims wasn't one of them.
Last week, Anderson chatted with Ronan Farrow for Interview Magazineto discuss "how she survived Hollywood." Farrow brought up a statement Anderson made in 2017 that landed her in hot water with sexual assault survivors and advocates.
As a refresher, Anderson told Megyn Kelly back in 2017 amidst the Weinstein scandal and #MeToo movement:
"It was common knowledge that certain producers or certain people in Hollywood are people to avoid, privately."
"You know what you're getting into if you're going into a hotel room alone."
Anderson, who revealed in her memoir she was molested by a babysitter as a child then raped by a 25-year-old when she was 12, seemingly had no regrets about her statement.
Farrow connected Anderson's honesty and openness in their interview to her 2017 statement.
"The spirit of honesty that runs through so much of your public life has some times blown up in your face a little bit."
"You faced a lot of criticism, in the midst of #MeToo reporting that was coming out in the last several years, when you suggested women need to protect themselves a little more."
Farrow then asked:
"Do you feel like that was a healthy thought to introduce into the dialogue at that point?"
Not only did Anderson double down on her prior statement, but she even added to it.
Anderson replied:
"I could even take it a step further."
"My mother would tell me—and I think this is the kind of feminism I grew up with—it takes two to tango."
Anderson continued:
"Believe me, I've been in many situations where it's like, 'Come in here little, girl, sit on the bed'."
"But my mom would say, 'If someone answers the door in a hotel robe and you're going for an interview, don't go in. But if you do go in, get the job'."
"That's a horrible thing to say, but that's how I was."
She finished:
"I skated on the edges of destruction, I just had this sense of value and self-worth. But I think a lot of people don't have that or they weren't taught that."
"Thank god for the #MeToo movement because things have changed and people are much more careful and respectful."
Readers of the exchange took to Twitter to express their thoughts.
While safety advice is a valid concern and an important discussion, bringing up such concerns when addressing sexual assault victims was deemed inappropriate. The assault has already happened—listing what should have been done differently equates to victim blaming.
The majority felt her recent statement did nothing to justify or clarify her prior one and actually made matters worse.
pic.twitter.com/A0YyqVvj9w
— (Morgann’s version) (@Morgann_Gicquel) February 2, 2023
That's not helping...
— Stay blessed 🙌🏽 (@DebWalk19961736) February 2, 2023
Is that… better?
— Zchamu (@zchamu) February 2, 2023
If that phrase is the extent of her thinking on the matter, maybe she shouldn't have said anything at all.
— Cr2O3 (@Viridian40826) February 2, 2023
She was also like, “well, they knew what they were getting into” when the Weinstein rape victims started coming forward during #MeToo No decent woman looks up to Pamela Anderson.
— Sher (@SherandtheCity) February 5, 2023
JESUS CHRIST… pic.twitter.com/iOVJHUJG4Q
— newt (harig55) (@newtnewtriot) February 2, 2023
A few commented her focus is on the wrong issue.
People who follow her advice and do all the "right" things are still sexually assaulted.
The only person responsible is the perpretrator who decided to rape someone.
You can tell people they need to be personally responsible to take basic precautions in life AND acknowledge you can do everything right and STILL get victimized.
— Robert Shaw (@bookonbob) February 2, 2023
I have a different opinion. How about a guy should never assault a woman regardless of the situation?
And also, lets not take advice from Pamela Anderson. pic.twitter.com/EUEkK7Ujo7
— Rational DC Fan (@DcRational) February 2, 2023
Anderson's memoir focuses on many aspects of her life, from her traumatic childhood to her rocky relationships and the stilen sex tape that derailed her career.
She also alleged in her memoir that Home Improvement star Tim Allen flashed her outside of her dressing room on the first day of shooting as a "joke" according to Allen.
She wrote:
"He opened his robe and flashed me quickly—completely naked underneath."
Allen denied the allegations through a representative.
"No, it never happened. I would never do such a thing."
***
If you or someone you know experienced sexual assault, help is out there.
You can reach the RAINN National Sexual Assault Hotline by calling 1-800-656-4673, use their Live Chat tool: https://www.rainn.org/get-help, or visit the National Sexual Violence Resource Center’s website.
In Canada, help is available through the Ending Violence Association of Canada website.
International resources can be found through the Rape Crisis Network Europewebsite.
