This next story is a wild one involving a case of mistaken identity. Pamela Anderson appeared on Josh Horowitz’s Happy Sad Confused podcast this week. When Horowitz asked her if she’d ever been mistaken for another celeb, she told a story about being confused for The Chicks’ Natalie Maines while on an airplane around 20 years ago. 20 years ago was right around the time that conservatives cancelled The Chicks after Maines spoke out against then-President Bush and the impending Iraq war. Tensions were high, and that vigilante cowboy brand of patriotism was all the rage on the right. Unfortunately, one of these early MAGA-prototypes went up to Pam and threatened her so badly that he had to be restrained by a flight attendant.
On the “Happy Sad Confused” podcast on Monday, host Josh Horowitz asked Anderson if she’d ever been confused for another celebrity. He quipped before she had the chance to answer that she probably hadn’t, though, because there’s “only one Pamela Anderson.” Well, he was wrong.
Anderson recalled: “This one time, I was on a flight and this guy came up to me and said, ‘Do you know what this country’s done for you?’ And I was like, ‘Oh, my God. What have I done?’” Anderson impersonated the man’s menacing growl and said that he had to be restrained on the flight. “This stewardess had to handcuff him to the chair because he was trying to attack [me],” she explained. “And, ends up, he thought I was a Dixie Chick.” She finished the story joking that she “almost got killed on a plane.”
That is insane. I’m sure Pamela has had to deal with more than a few creepy, obsessive fans over the years, but it had to have been so unnerving to have some Toby Keith wannabe shout obscene things while trying to attack her. It must have been really bad if flight attendants couldn’t calm him down on their own and instead had to restrain him. Ugh. Hopefully, after the flight, he was arrested courtesy of the Department of Homeland Security, if you know what I mean. In all seriousness, though, that must have been confusing and scary and gives a little peek at what Natalie herself must have gone through back then. How awful.
photos credit: Joy Scheller/Avalon, JPI Studios/Avalon, Avalon.red/Avalon, Getty
Yikes! I’m glad that guy was restrained…but Pamela and Natalie do not sound the same! I think they look different enough (at least in pictures), but how messed up did that guy need to be not to realize that the voices were different?
All I had to see was ” A man threatened…” A man always threatening a woman and the audacity to do it in public. This must have been terrifying for Pam, but can you just imagine what Natalie Maines life is like? Poor woman!
When I think about what this country did to Maines and the Chicks I’m nauseous. I’m sure Pam was terrified
I will never get tired of seeing Pamela bare faced. I love that she made this choice and is owning it. I also like that we are getting to know more about her even though I feel like an ass for having spent most of my life dismissing her because of her public persona. Internalized misogyny is a real fucker.
Pamela has a lovely musical voice like flowers with an undertone of expensive whiskey. I knew a woman with a voice like that once and it was amazing, could have listened to her for hours. She also happened to have a great figure, great hair and not need makeup, and be a great and inventive cook and have good taste. She told me once she did not like to dress “hot” because that is all anyone would see when they met her. I suspect it’s same with Pamela and she is owning herself and asking people to see what’s underneath. Mad respect.
This just reminded me what a badass song “Not Ready to Make Nice” was when it came out, and still is.
Also here for all of the Pam content to continue forever. She’s wonderful and I adore this new era for her.