Pam Anderson: I Was Raped At 12

Pam Anderson has opened up about her shocking and heartbreaking past.

During a speech at the launch of The Pamela Anderson Foundation, an animal advocacy group, on Friday, the former “Baywatch” star revealed she was a victim of multiple instances of sexual abuse and assault.

“I did not have an easy childhood. Despite loving parents, I was molested from age 6-10 by my female babysitter,” she said. “I went to a friend’s boyfriend’s house while she was busy. The boyfriend’s older brother decided he would teach me backgammon, which led into a back massage, which led into rape – my first heterosexual experience. He was 25 years old – I was 12.”

And she said the abuse didn’t stop there.

“My first boyfriend in grade 9 decided it would be funny to gang rape me with six of his friends,” she continued. “Needless to say I had a hard time trusting humans –
I just wanted off this earth.”

The 46-year-old actress said she found comfort in the company of animals, which led into her lifelong support of animal rights groups.

“My affinity with animals saved me. They came to me naturally,” she said. “The trees spoke to me. I wasn’t sure why I was alive. A burning question – a quest. My loyalty remained with the animal kingdom – I vowed to protect them and only them.

“I prayed to the whales with my feet in the ocean,” she continued. “My only real friends, ‘til I had children.”

Pam later took to Twitter to post the transcript of her entire speech and explained why she chose to speak out.

“My speech at launch of my Namesake foundation. I want people to know – they can overcome and prosper with love…” she Tweeted on Sunday.

http://t.co/k7XcCfS4wK My speech at launch of my Namesake foundation. I want people to know – they can overcome and prosper with love…

— Pamela Anderson (@PamelaDAnderson) May 18, 2014

According to archived reports, Pam has previously spoken about being raped in a reported interview with Jane magazine in 2003.

In the interview, Pam reportedly said, “My first experience with sex was nonconsensual. The guy ran around afterward in a panic, saying, ‘What have I done, what have I done?’ Looking back, it was awful. I felt like everyone knew that I had had sex, like it was tattooed on my forehead. That was one thing I never told my mom until a few years ago.’’

— Erin O’Sullivan