Pamela Anderson says #MeToo movement is 'too much' and third wave feminism is a 'bore'

‘My mother taught me, don’t go to a hotel with a stranger,’ says former Playboy model

Pamela Anderson has hit out at the #MeToo movement, saying it is “too much” and third wave feminism is a “bore”.

The former Playboy model and Baywatch star said feminism can go “too far” and that her mother had taught her not to go to hotels with strangers.

“I think this feminism can go too far,” the 51-year-old told 60 Minutes. “I’m a feminist, but I think that this third wave of feminism is a bore. I think it paralyses men.”

Anderson, who has criticised the movement before, added: “I think that this #MeToo movement is a bit too much for me. I’m sorry, I’ll probably get killed for saying that … but my mother taught me, don’t go to a hotel with a stranger.”

The #MeToo movement against sexual harassment and assault exploded last autumn after a series of sexual misconduct allegations were made against powerful men in Hollywood and a slew of other industries.

Anderson also addressed her relationship with Julian Assange – the WikiLeaks founder who is currently holed up in the Ecuadorian embassy in London under threat of extradition to America to face potential espionage charges.

Anderson, who was interviewed from her home in the south of France, called on Australian prime minister Scott Morrison to use his power to bring Assange, who is an Australian citizen, back to his homeland.

“Ok, well Scott, get Julian his passport back and take him back to Australia and be proud of him,” Anderson said.

Discussing her relationship with Assange, she said: “I feel closer to him I think than a lot of people have gotten to him. He trusts me.”

Asked to describe “what sort of relationship” it is, she said: “We like to call it a romantic struggle.”

In December last year, Anderson said the woman who accused Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault should have “known what they were getting into”.

Anderson discussed her own personal experience with abuse – saying she was not surprised by the allegations made against the Hollywood mogul.

“No,” she said. “It was common knowledge that certain producers or certain people in Hollywood were people to avoid, privately. You know what you’re getting into if you’re going into a hotel room, alone.”

Kelly then pointed out that many of the meetings were set up by agents, to which Anderson said that was “not a good excuse”.

“Then go with them,” she continued. “That’s what they should have done. Sent somebody with them. I just think there are easy ways to remedy that. That’s not a good excuse.”

Anderson also called Weinstein “intimidating” during the interview, while talking about her own experiences in Hollywood, saying she has been offered money, homes, cars and roles in movies from men that she has turned down in the past.

Anderson responded to the criticism she received for her comments about Weinstein in an Instagram post. She said: “Backlash is good – I like this. My position is not ‘problematic’ because it doesn’t fall in line with the common herd or trend. I’m trying to tell women as a survivor of childhood abuse myself – it is important to be proactive as an adult who knows better – in defending themselves.”

Anderson has reinvented herself as a political agitator and outspoken voice in recent years. Her issues include everything from warning that porn addiction is leading to sexual violence against women and child abuse to publicly rebuking Donald Trump’s “pussy-grabbing” comments to her campaign against the use of fur with People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (Peta).

Anderson first turned her attention to political causes over 20 years ago on a Baywatch promotional tour when she wrote a letter to Peta.