Pamela Anderson Opens Up About Hepatitis C, Childhood Trauma at amfAR Gala

VENICE — Pamela Anderson delivered an emotional and deeply personal speech at the amfAR Gala in Venice, reflecting on her hepatitis C diagnosis, childhood trauma and the difficult journey that ultimately helped reshape her life and career.

Anderson was diagnosed with hepatitis C in the late 1990s, at a time when the disease had no cure. She said her doctor told her she might have only about 10 years to live.

“It was a death sentence,” Anderson recalled during the ceremony. “I’m sure that colored and corrupted my decisions. It was not fear of death, but fear of what might happen to my young children. It turned my life inside out.”

A treatment that could cure hepatitis C became available in 2011. Anderson said she was finally declared free of the virus by 2015, although the treatment came at a steep financial cost.

“It took everything I had in my bank,” she said.

The experience also left Anderson struggling with shame and guilt. She said the diagnosis became tied to painful memories of sexual abuse she experienced as a child.

“It felt like it was carved into my forehead: Damaged goods,” she said. “And I presented myself as such.”

Anderson said she has not completely recovered from the emotional impact of her diagnosis, but she has begun to come to terms with it. She now sees her experiences as part of the force behind her creative work.

In recent years, Anderson has enjoyed a career resurgence, earning attention for performances in films including The Last Showgirl, The Naked Gun, Rosebush Pruning and Place to Be, which premieres at the Venice Film Festival on Wednesday.

“My truth has come through my work, finding ways to express myself through the arts,” Anderson said. “It gave me the ammunition I needed, a fertile life to use and play in.”

She ended her speech with a powerful message of resilience.

“I’m not a victim, I’m a victor,” she said. “I am strong and capable, more now than I could ever dream of.”

Anderson Honored With Award of Courage

Anderson received amfAR’s Award of Courage during Sunday night’s gala at the Hilton Molino Stucky. The nonprofit is best known for its work to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic and has also supported hepatitis C research and advocacy, particularly because hepatitis C can commonly occur alongside HIV.

The event, presented by the World Gold Council, was hosted by filmmaker and actor Taika Waititi. Performance artist Marina Abramović was also honored, receiving the Award of Inspiration, presented by actor Orlando Bloom.

The evening featured performances, celebrity guests and a high-profile charity auction.

Auctioneer Simon de Pury led bidding on a series of luxury and entertainment experiences. An Andy Warhol Flowers painting sold for €160,000, while a pair of Chopard earrings featuring pink and blue sapphires went for €140,000 to Ferrari producer Monika Bacardi.

Another popular item was an exclusive trip to the New Zealand set of The Lord of the Rings: The Hunt for Gollum, including a meeting with stars Andy Serkis, Anya Taylor-Joy and Kate Winslet. It sold for €90,000.

But the biggest sale of the night came from Abramović herself.

Her package included a digital artwork called Slow Walking, a private lunch prepared by Abramović at her Manhattan apartment and a lesson in her signature “Abramović Method.”

After several minutes of intense bidding, a man wearing a striped jacket won the package with a €500,000 offer.

Abramović immediately jumped from her seat and went over to congratulate the winning bidder.

Bebe Rexha Gets the Gala Dancing

The formal evening ended on a high-energy note when Bebe Rexha took the stage.

Wearing a black sequined gown, the singer performed “In the Name of Love” and “New Religion” before heading into the crowd for “I’m Good (Blue).”

“C’mon amfAR, put your hands up!” Rexha shouted as guests rose from their seats and began dancing.

She moved among the tables, dancing and taking photos with attendees, including Glee star Nolan Funk.

The crowd’s enthusiasm was so strong that Rexha asked the DJ to play “I’m Good (Blue)” again.

“This is the afterparty, let’s go!” she declared.

For Anderson, however, the night was about more than glamour and celebration. Her speech offered a glimpse into the pain behind her public life — and how she has turned those experiences into a source of strength.

“I’m not the damsel in distress,” she said, “no matter how easy that role is to play.”