She's a successful actress, an iconic model, and a passionate activist.
But for all of the amazing things Pamela Anderson has accomplished throughout her life, there
have been just as many challenges.
This is her tragic real-life story.
Road to success
"People always say you're smarter than you look, and I say no I'm just as smart as I
look."
Before she became a household name, Anderson was just an aspiring talent looking to make
it big in Hollywood.
In letters she wrote in 1989, after moving to L.A., Anderson confessed,
"It's tough starting a career isn't it.
You have to put up with a lot of s---…When they finally believe in you, they have their
own hidden agenda."
"Hollywood is very seductive and the people want to be famous."
Anderson also revealed just how questionable her supposed industry meetings were back then,
writing:
"Wish me luck tomorrow.
I'm supposedly meeting some mafia dude.
I'll bring my gun don't worry.
He's an agent."
A hot mess marriage
"I love walking in the rain, I think it's so romantic, but it never rains here."
While it seems Anderson has been unlucky in love, her 15-year, on-again, off-again relationship
with Mötley Crüe drummer Tommy Lee was especially troubling.
In February 1995, the couple said "I do" just 96 hours after going on their first date,
and what followed was one of the most drama-filled unions in Hollywood.
In June 1996, the pair had their first child, Brandon, but filed for divorce that November,
according to E! News.
Choosing to stick it out, they welcomed their second son, Dylan, in '97.
By '98, Anderson had filed for divorce again, this time alleging a physical altercation
with Lee.
He then pleaded no contest to felony spousal battery and spent four months in jail, but
the Playmate and rock star continued getting back together and breaking up until 2010.
"Now, you divorced Tommy Lee and then you married him again?"
"I did that."
Fast forward to 2018 and Anderson and Lee were fighting bitterly again after he accused
son Brandon of knocking him unconscious.
Taking to her blog, the blonde bombshell wrote,
"[Tommy's] actions are desperate and humiliating.
He is a disaster spinning out of control.
And he is not acting like a father.
But this is nothing new."
"They're both adults."
"Yeah."
"Maybe Brandon moreso."
Looking out for her kids
In 2001, Anderson filed for sole custody of her two sons.
Alleging both physical and mental abuse, Anderson recounted just how much she suffered with
Lee, citing the 1998 altercation that resulted in her filing for divorce as proof of his
reportedly explosive ways.
She recalled,
"I was holding Dylan in my arms…when Tommy physically attacked me…Tommy kicked me violently
in the back several times…He was completely out of control."
Anderson then went on to accuse Lee of showing their sons graphic videos, forcing them to
call her a quote "freak," using obscene language around them, and more.
She claimed,
"Tommy's behavior has deteriorated to such an extent that I am afraid for the emotional
well-being of the children while in his care."
In 2002, the exes eventually settled on an equal joint custody arrangement.
"They're genetically loaded, so.
They're perfect gentlemen considering the gene pool."
Losing her home
In 2012 Anderson landed in hot water with the IRS.
According to TMZ, she was hit with two tax liens amounting to more than $370,000.
Basically, the government put a claim to her Malibu home and forbid her to sell it.
According to the gossip rag, the first lien was filed by the IRS, saying Anderson owed
nearly $260,000 in unpaid taxes for 2011, while the second came from the state of California,
citing that she owed over $112,000 for that same year.
Anderson insisted to the Mirror,
"I'm not trying to avoid any tax ­obligation.
Certain events occurred, outside of my control, which caused this temporary but embarrassing
situation."
But that wasn't Anderson's first run-in with the Tax Man.
As TMZ noted, she actually landed on California's "Top 500 Delinquent Tax Payers" list in 2009
when the IRS filed a $1.7 million lien against her.
Her Hep C diagnosis
While Anderson and Lee were embroiled in their bitter custody battle, the model released
a statement revealing that she had been diagnosed with Hepatitis C, per Entertainment Weekly.
According to the CDC, Hep C is a quote "serious [liver] disease than can result in long-term
health problems, even death."
There is no vaccine for the virus and, as Anderson revealed at the time, she had contracted
it from sharing a tattoo needle with Lee.
She alleged,
"Tommy has the disease and never disclosed it to me during our marriage."
"I just think looking back that I maybe was a little more reckless than I would have been.
I think it's always kind of a, hanging over your head."
In 2016, Anderson told ABC just how serious her diagnosis had been.
"They told me that I would die in 10 years."
Luckily, 15 years later, not only was Anderson thriving, but after an experimental $100,000
treatment of a drug Sovaldi, she was cured.
Dating a "monster"
In June 2019, Anderson's love life came crashing down once again when she learned that her
boyfriend of over two years, French soccer star Adil Rami, had reportedly never broken
up with his supposed ex while dating the supermodel.
Anderson revealed that she had spoken to Rami's girlfriend and mother of his children, claiming
that she too had not known the truth.
She blogged,
"I'm devastated to find out in the last few days that [Rami] was living a double life.
He lied to all.
How is it possible to control two women's hearts and minds like this.
I'm sure there were others."
Anderson also accused Rami of quote "physical and emotional torture," describing him as
a "monster."
"It was uh, I loved being in France, that was the good part, I learned a little French,
and now I'm home."
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