Hulu’s new series,Pam & Tommyis revisiting “a very traumatic time” ofPamela Anderson’s life, a source tells PEOPLE.
“After the tape was made public, it was a very traumatizing situation and it’s unfair that she is being re-subjected to this trauma, like re-opening a wound,” the source says.
“Pamela deserves a level of respect. She’s a human beingand a mom. There’s a sense of hypocrisy about it. It’s her life and she should have the decision [as to] whether it’s turned into a commodity for public consumption,” the source continues.
Pamela Anderson.John Phillips/amfAR/Getty
Anderson became hugely famous after she was onBaywatchand after she married Lee. “Then when [the leaked sex tape] happened, there were paparazzi following her and always outside of her home. She was not seeking any more attention — she had enough,” the source says.
“If you go back to her Playboy [cover], she always had the perspective that that was her conscious choice,” the source says. “But somebody taking her personal home movie, that was not her choice. When someone steals your home movie, that is criminal and that’s a violation. That was her privacy.”
The source adds, “This was a very traumatic time of her life. She’s a really good person and I think all she’s really ever wanted was to be married and have a partner and have a nice life.”
The first three episodes ofPam & Tommywere released on Hulu on Wednesday. The miniseries, which starsLily Jamesas Pam andSebastian Stanas Tommy, recounts the former couple’s four-day courtship leading up to their wedding on a Mexican beach in 1995, as well as the making and subsequent scandal of their sex tape.
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“I’ve never seen it. I made not one dollar. It was stolen property. We made a deal to stop all the shenanigans,” Andersonsaid onWatch What Happens Livein 2015.
Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee in 1996.Jeffrey Mayer/WireImage
Earlier this month, James, 32, revealed in acover story for Net-a-Porter’sPorterthat she reached out to Anderson ahead of shooting the series in hopes of having her involved in the project. However, James said she didn’t get a response.
“I was really hopeful that she would be involved. I wish it had been different,” James told the outlet. “My sole intention was to take care of the story and to play Pamela authentically. I was very hopeful that we would be in touch right up until we started filming.”
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Though Anderson has not commented on the show, her friendCourtney Lovedidn’t hold back her feelings while addressing the serieson Facebooklast May.
“I find this so f—ing outrageous,” Love wrote in her post. “When Pam / Tommy sex tape was out / myself @pattyschemel @xmadmx were making a record. And the lone women in many recording studios in LA. Where all / ALL! The staff engineers / producers / owners / were watching the sex tape with huge schadenfraude.. Guffaws, It was disgusting. I banned anyone discussing it.. It destroyed my friend Pamelas life. Utterly.”
Love also called out James, writing, “My heart goes out to Pammy ♥️♥️ further causing her complex trauma. And shame on Lily James whoever the f— she is. #vile.”
Liz McNeil
source: people.com
