Pamela Anderson recently opened up about surviving a life-changing Hepatitis C battle after she shared a needle with her ex-husband, Tommy Lee. He initially denied carrying the virus.
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Add BollywoodShaadis on GooglePamela Anderson recently reflected on surviving hepatitis C, reviving memories of the explosive 2002 moment when she said she contracted the virus after sharing a tattoo needle with her ex-husband, Tommy Lee.
The Baywatch star opened up about her life-altering ordeal after what she described as a 'death sentence,' as she was given 10 years to live. She recalled fearing for her two sons, whom she shares with the former drummer.
The actress, who was recently honored with amfAR’s Award of Courage in Venice, opened up about the devastating impact of being diagnosed with hepatitis C, recalling that a doctor once told her she likely had a decade to live. Pamela accepted the award gracefully and shared:
"It was a death sentence. That’s what my doctor told me — that I probably had around 10 years to live... It was not fear of death, but fear of what might happen to my young children. It turned my life inside out."
But years before Anderson became a survivor and advocate for the disease, her diagnosis sparked a bitter public fallout with Lee, who denied her claim that she contracted the virus after sharing a tattoo needle with him. In a statement released in March 2002, the actress clarified:
"I contracted hepatitis C while sharing a tattoo needle with my ex-husband Tommy Lee. Tommy has the disease and never disclosed it to me during our marriage."
Lee, however, publicly denied having hepatitis C. At that time, the former couple was also locked in a contentious custody battle over their two young sons, Brandon and Dylan. A representative for Lee suggested Anderson’s public comments were connected to the ongoing legal fight, saying further discussion was inappropriate because custody proceedings were still pending.
Lee's representative also accused Anderson of using the media as part of an attack against him. His team's statement that widely circulated online reads:
"Because the custody evaluation is ongoing and court proceedings are pending, further comment is not appropriate at this time. Her actions today are a clear attack on Tommy, and hopefully she will realize that she is only doing more harm to her children and herself by trying to use the media as a tool to hurt Tommy and their two boys."
Anderson and Lee married in 1995 after a whirlwind romance, famously tying the knot just days after meeting. The Playboy model met the drummer of Mötley Crüe at a club during New Year's Eve and instantly hit it off. They talked on the phone after this, but did not meet each other again until six weeks after seeing each other for the first time. Then, while Pamela had a photo shoot in Cancun, Tommy followed her there, and they stayed at the hotel together.
Just three days after meeting each other, Tommy proposed to Pamela with a ring, and they got married on a beach with Pamela wearing a white bikini and Tommy in board shorts. Their relationship quickly became tabloid fodder, with the pair making headlines for everything from their turbulent marriage to the theft and release of their infamous private tape.
They eventually divorced in 1998, but their relationship remained complicated as they navigated co-parenting and a series of public disputes. Anderson lived with hepatitis C for years before eventually undergoing treatment after newer medications became available. In 2015, she announced that she had been cured. She now reveals it was Lee who had pushed her into seeking treatment after he himself got rid of the virus the year before.
Pamela later revealed that paying for treatment was financially difficult, saying it “took everything” she had in the bank. The actress has also spoken about the emotional toll of living with the disease, including how the stigma surrounding hepatitis C affected the way she saw herself.
Now, decades after the public dispute surrounding her diagnosis and Lee’s denial, Anderson said during her Venice speech, "I'm not a victim, I’m a victor. I am strong and capable, more now than I could ever dream of. ... I’m not the damsel in distress, no matter how easy that role is to play."
What do you think about Pamela Anderson’s hepatitis C battle and the controversy surrounding Tommy Lee? Let us know.
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