Millions have watched the new series Pam and Tommy, retelling the mid-1990s story of celebrities Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee and their leaked “sex tape”. People involved in the show – including the showrunner and actors – claim that they are making a “feminist statement” and suggest that the portrayal of events favours Pamela Anderson. Lily James, who plays Anderson, said she hopes the show will “make people look at their own culpability in perpetuating this unhealthy viral internet behavior”.
However, the show contributes to this “unhealthy” behaviour by turning Anderson’s experience of a private sexual video being widely distributed and viewed without her consent into entertainment. Many have searched for -– and found -– the original video, watching it on mainstream porn sites, encouraging others on internet forums to watch and sharing links to wherever else it can be found.
