The real winner out of Assange’s freedom from prison? Pamela Anderson
After more than a decade of highly publicised legal battles, Julian Assange is a free man. The WikiLeaks founder pleaded guilty to the charge of conspiring to unlawfully obtain and disseminate classified information, with the US judge accepting time served in London’s Belmarsh Prison as his sentence.
On Wednesday evening a charter flight carrying Assange arrived in Canberra, marking his return to Australia and the beginning of his newfound freedom.
The odd couple: Pamela Anderson and Julian Assange.
Meanwhile, half a world away, on a sprawling six-acre property on Vancouver Island in the Canadian province of British Columbia, another person will likely be toasting the news: Pamela Anderson.
The friendship between the former Baywatch actor and the world’s most controversial whistleblower has long been a source of curious fascination. Anderson was one of the first high-profile celebrities to rally around Assange, visiting the Australian regularly over the past decade while consistently lobbying for his release.
Perhaps unsurprisingly, the odd coupling of Anderson and Assange attracted global headlines and some criticism, but now that Assange is free, Anderson’s efforts represent a curious addition to her career as a public figure.
Meat-free meeting
After an arrest warrant was issued by Westminster Magistrates’ Court in June 2012, Assange moved into the Ecuadorian embassy in London until his arrest in 2019. According to Anderson’s 2023 memoir, Love, Pamela, the pair were first introduced through fashion designer Vivienne Westwood in 2014.
Assange was reportedly interested in Anderson’s “perspective on global issues”, and Anderson began regularly visiting the WikiLeaks founder at the embassy. Throughout 2016 and 2017, Anderson was spotted entering the embassy on more than 10 occasions, bringing a selection of vegan snacks, including meat-free cheeseburgers and food from popular UK sandwich chain Pret A Manger.
Strange bedfellows
The budding friendship between Anderson and Assange led to speculation that the pair were romantically involved, a rumour boosted by Anderson’s tell-all interview with People magazine in 2017. “He’s a good person who cares about the world, he is funny, sensitive, romantic, and surprisingly resourceful. He’s a good man,” she said.
Anderson would later add: “I understand that our “affair” and the curiosity surrounding that might bring some attention to his situation. That’s fine, but I’d rather not go into private details. Let’s just say everyone deserves love.” While Anderson eventually walked back her claims of a relationship, in her memoir she recalled a wild night together after sharing a “strong bottle of mezcal”.
“We’d both fallen asleep following a slightly frisky, fun, alcohol-induced night together,” wrote Anderson. “My car was still waiting outside, and I’m sure that sent some tongues wagging.”
Oh no, ScoMo
In 2018, Anderson ramped up her efforts to advocate on behalf of Assange, appearing on Nine’s 60 Minutes* to demand that then-prime minister Scott Morrison defend Assange and help bring him back to Australia. Morrison would later find himself in hot water after telling a Gold Coast FM radio station he had “plenty of mates who’ve asked me if they can be my special envoy to sort the issue out with Pamela Anderson”.
Anderson, who counts Assange as a friend, advised Scott Morrison to “defend your friend, get Julian his passport back and take him back to Australia and be proud of him, and throw him a parade when he gets home”.Credit: AAP/Nine News
‘The world’s most innocent man’
In 2019, Assange was arrested by London police after Ecuador revoked the political asylum granted to him at the country’s London embassy. Following his detainment, Anderson became the first person to visit the WikiLeaks founder at Belmarsh prison.
She declared Assange “the world’s most innocent man” and said the fight was on to save his life.
“He has sacrificed so much to bring the truth out, and we deserve the truth,” Anderson said outside the prison. “I am sorry, I feel sick, I feel nauseous. We are here to save his life; that is what this is.”
Anderson leaving Belmarsh Prison in south-east London after visiting Assange.Credit: PA Images via Getty Images
Becoming the face – and body – of Assange’s fight for freedom
Anderson wrote that she booked an Ultra Tune commercial in Australia purely so she could visit Assange’s mother, Christine, who offered unfiltered feedback on Anderson’s specific brand of advocacy.
“She asked me to stop posting sexy photos on social media, to post authentic ones, ones with my sons or pets, with less make-up, not retouched,” Anderson wrote in her memoir. “She thought it would help me become a stronger and more serious activist because my intelligence was being overshadowed.”
Anderson shot an Ultratune commercial in Australia so she had an excuse to visit Assange’s mother, Christine. Credit: Screenshot
Meanwhile, Anderson faced criticism from sections of the media that took issue with her constant defence of Assange. In 2019, she clashed with Meghan McCain – the daughter of former Republican presidential nominee John McCain – on talk show The View.
As Anderson discussed a smear campaign aimed at Assange, McCain claimed: “He’s a cyberterrorist. I’ll say it. I’m not going to stand by this; it’s ridiculous.”
Assange’s freedom
Four years on, Assange is finally free and celebrating with his wife, Stella, and family. Anderson’s representatives didn’t respond to requests for comment, but it feels safe to assume she’s across the news. It also feels appropriate to recognise how early – and eager – she was to back the Assange freedom campaign. While Anthony Albanese has lobbied for Assange’s freedom in recent years, when Anderson initially started advocating for his release, the Australian government was less keen.
The release of Anderson’s 2023 memoir, Love, Pamela, and subsequent documentary, Pamela: A Love Story, led to a renewed appreciation for her position in popular culture. Anderson will next be seen in Gia Coppola’s film The Last Showgirl for which she is already the subject of Oscar buzz.
But for those in the Assange camp, Anderson isn’t the famous blonde from Baywatch – she’s a tenacious advocate who helped Assange taste freedom (and vegan snacks).
*60 Minutes airs on Nine, owner of this masthead.
Find more of the author’s work here. Email him at thomas.mitchell@smh.com.au or follow him on Instagram at @thomasalexandermitchell and on Twitter @_thmitchell.
Find out the next TV, streaming series and movies to add to your must-sees. Get The Watchlist delivered every Thursday.