Anna’s Pop Corner: Pam’s Love Story

On Jan. 31, Netflix released a new documentary titled “Pamela, a Love Story.” The documentary takes you through the life of celebrity Pamela Anderson, from playboy bunny to broadway star, told from her perspective this time.

In April 2022, I wrote a story about the Hulu original show, ‘Pam and Tommy’. The show followed the events of Tommy Lee and Anderson’s sex tape being stolen then being sold and posted online. The show however, did not have Anderson’s consent but Hulu went forward with it anyway.

On March 2, 2022, Anderson posted a hand-written note on instagram saying that she was going to tell her story, her way. With major support from her two sons, Brandon and Dylan Lee, the idea for the documentary was born.

The whole idea of the documentary and the show was to take back the narrative. Since the 80s, Anderson has only been seen as a sex symbol, even before the tape was released. Director Ryan White wanted everyone to see who she really was.

“I think Pamela, to a lot of people, to culture, to pop culture, is sex,” White told US media while promoting the documentary. “She’s been the embodiment of sexuality for so long, so the story of Pamela’s sexuality, her individual sexuality, is such a theme throughout the film because so much of that was robbed from her when she was young.”

Originally, Anderson did not want to do the documentary because she already wrote a book, “Love, Anderson”, telling her side of things. However, with some persuasion from her son, B. Lee, the idea of giving a full and frank account of her life was put into motion.

“She’s been a bulldog, protecting me and my brother my whole life,” B. Lee told US Media. “I think this is a fantastic opportunity for me to step up, and be there, and get this story right. To showcase the real her.”

In her efforts to take back her story, Anderson performed as Roxy Hart in the Broadway production of Chicago. On opening night of her eight-week run, she was welcomed with an enthusiastic crowd that has not been seen as much since the pandemic.

When I finished watching ‘Pamela, a Love Story’ I immediately wished that I could tell her that the Hulu show is what made me fall in love with her and her story. In 1995, the whole world quit looking at Anderson as a person but looked at Tommy Lee as a god. The show and the doc definitely changed the narrative and gave the power back to her.

“‘The best way to get married is to tell someone, “I am never gonna marry you.” Within six months you’re married, for sure. That’s what you do, okay?”