In 1995, Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee shocked the world with their whirlwind romance that led to a wedding after only knowing each other for 96 hours. But their love story took a dark turn when a sex tape they recorded privately during their honeymoon was stolen and leaked to the public by an electrician named Rand Gauthier, who had a grudge against Lee.

The eight-episode miniseries Pam & Tommy, which premiered on Hulu on February 2, 2022, chronicles the turbulent three-year marriage between the Baywatch star and the Mötley Crüe drummer, as well as the legal and personal consequences of the sex tape scandal that made them the first victims of online piracy and invasion of privacy.

The series stars Lily James as Anderson and Sebastian Stan as Lee, who underwent dramatic physical transformations to portray the iconic couple. Seth Rogen plays Gauthier, the man who stole and sold the tape, while Nick Offerman plays Uncle Miltie, a porn mogul who helped distribute it. Taylor Schilling plays Erica Gauthier, Rand’s estranged wife who gets caught up in his scheme.

Pam & Tommy is based on the 2014 Rolling Stone article “Pam and Tommy: The Untold Story of the World’s Most Infamous Sex Tape” by Amanda Chicago Lewis. The series was created by Robert Siegel and directed by Craig Gillespie, who previously collaborated on the biopic I, Tonya. The series has received generally positive reviews from critics, who praised the performances of the cast, especially James and Stan.

The series also explores the impact of the sex tape on Anderson and Lee’s careers and personal lives, as well as their relationship with their two children. The couple divorced in 1998, but they had an on-and-off relationship for many years after. Anderson married her bodyguard Dan Hayhurst in 2020, while Lee married social media star Brittany Furlan in 2019.

Pam & Tommy also features other celebrities who were part of Anderson and Lee’s lives, such as Hugh Hefner, Jay Leno, and the members of Mötley Crüe. The series also depicts some of the controversies and scandals that surrounded the couple, such as Lee’s arrest for spousal abuse, Anderson’s diagnosis with hepatitis C, and their involvement with PETA and animal rights activism.

The series has sparked some controversy of its own, as Anderson and Lee were reportedly not consulted or involved in the production of the show. Anderson’s friend Courtney Love criticized the series as “vile” and “outrageous”, while Lee’s son Brandon Lee said he was “disappointed” by the show. However, some of the cast and crew have defended the series as a respectful and empathetic portrayal of the couple, who were unfairly vilified and exploited by the media and the public.

Pam & Tommy is one of the latest examples of biographical dramas that explore the lives and careers of famous figures, especially from the 1990s and 2000s. The series follows other successful shows such as American Crime Story, The Crown, The People v. O. J. Simpson, and Dopesick. The series also reflects on the themes of fame, privacy, sex, and consent in the age of the internet and social media, and how they have changed over time.