Pamela Anderson revealed abuse Friday starting as far back as age 6 — telling a crowd the people who hurt her ranged from a babysitter to a group of teen boys.
The former Baywatch star was at Cannes Film Festival promoting her new animal charity, the Pamela Anderson Foundation, when she opened up to the audience about her childhood abuse. (Via Daily Mail)
CNN reports Anderson says she was molested by a female babysitter from ages 6 to 10, raped by a 25-year-old man when she was 12 and gang-raped by her then-boyfriend and six of his friends in ninth grade.
According to a transcript of the speech posted to her website, the 46-year-old said she never told anyone about the assaults, and adds, "I had a hard time trusting humans, I just wanted off this earth. ... To me, the world is not a safe place." (Via Pamela Anderson)
But Anderson says animals are what helped her through those dark times.
The Daily Mirror reports she told the crowd at Cannes: "My [affinity] with animals saved me. ... My loyalty remained with the animal kingdom and I vowed to protect them and only them."
Anderson later tweeted, "I want people to know they can overcome and prosper with love."
Anderson has been an outspoken vegan and taken part in many animal activist campaigns with organizations like PETA. (Via PETA)
About 200 people attended the event, which raised nearly $170,000. Anderson's charity aims to support the environment, animal rights and human rights.
