After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries

After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries

As a documentarian, I have had the privilege of delving into the lives of many fascinating individuals, but few have left me as captivated and moved as the cast and creators of Baywatch. In this narrative, we see a tale of dreams deferred, hopes lost, and triumphs won – a microcosm of human resilience and perseverance.


In simpler terms, the person in charge of the latest Hulu documentary series about the famous 90s TV show Baywatch has disclosed the true explanation for why Pamela Anderson, one of the original cast members, didn’t appear on the program. This is despite Anderson stating that she declined to be part of the show as it would set her career back.

In the hit documentary “After Baywatch: Moment in the Sun,” we delve into the post-show lives of the beloved action series’ cast members, shedding light on their experiences when the cameras were no longer rolling during its golden era.

David Hasselhoff appears, as does the still glamorous Carmen Electra. 

Additionally, Nicole Eggert, who bravely fought through breast cancer, played a significant role in spearheading this venture.

Additionally present is Jeremy Jackson, known for portraying Hasselhoff’s son in the show, and he has made headlines again following reports of his ex-wife residing in a challenging situation on Venice Beach.

However, surprisingly, the most well-known figure associated with the project is absent. That would be Pamela Anderson, previously known as the iconic Baywatch beauty, who just a week ago publicly disassociated herself from the endeavor.

After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries

After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries

In a manner reminiscent of Baywatch’s dramatic flair, she confided in Glamour magazine last month, revealing that they had pressured everyone in her circle: ‘They pleaded with anyone close to me. They even attempted to influence my children, offering them producer roles.’

‘I mean, they were trying everything. And I said, “No, I really don’t want to go backwards”.’

But that, says director Matthew Felker, 44, isn’t entirely true.

A charming woman with a resemblance suggestive of a character from the series, Felker remarks that the primary challenge was securing funding, noting that the 57-year-old is overseen by her own children.

In an exclusive conversation with DailyMail.com, he shared that he had indeed communicated with her son, who holds both a personal and professional role as her manager. Initially, the response wasn’t a refusal, but rather one of readiness, which he found acceptable.

When I leave, are you saying there will be a substantial amount [of money]? I inquired as to what constitutes ‘a lot’, but I’m still unsure of the exact amount. Could you clarify this for me?

‘I’m not just going to throw a number up. It’s not professional. I’m just not going to do it.’

As a fervent admirer, I couldn’t help but express my thoughts: “Pamela’s tale is simply captivating, yet it seems she has already shared her story, leaving me yearning to learn more from another perspective.

We conversed occasionally with various individuals associated with her, some of whom are her friends. We explored every possible avenue. It is indeed true to a significant extent.

After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries

As an ardent admirer, let me clarify something that seems to be misunderstood: I’ve never had a face-to-face chat with Pamela. Moreover, it’s important to note that I never extended a producer credit to her children, and as far as I know, I am the sole individual who could extend such a credit if needed.

The primary issue for Felker, following his five-year effort and personal financial investment to bring After Baywatch to the small screen, is the turmoil arising from Anderson’s absence from the series.

The filmmaker who became a director resides in a luxurious $12 million house in Malibu alongside his stunning spouse Elizabeth, a past soap opera actress from New Zealand.

The duo reside in a contemporary, cream-hued dwelling, located merely a few miles away from Zuma Beach – the site for Baywatch filming, and they cohabit it with their pair of pets: a miniature Chihuahua and Rosie, a dog that Felker saved.

Following an initial phase in modeling, where she even portrayed Britney Spears’s romantic interest in the blockbuster Toxic (2003), Felker gradually transitioned towards production. This shift resulted in a series of credits spanning films and television movies, along with featuring as himself in the 2018 documentary titled The American Meme.

From his college years onwards, Felker harbored dreams not only of scriptwriting but also of directing and producing movies under his own banner. However, he was unable to fully transition into those roles.

That all changed during a miserable trip to Lake Tahoe with Elizabeth six years ago. 

She shared with DailyMail.com, “Eventually, you can’t keep being the toxic person.” She added, “It’s time for you to make some changes.

She added: ‘He didn’t like me very much for a while after I said that.’

After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries

The outcome was a four-part documentary series titled “Life After Baywatch,” delving profoundly into the lives of the show’s cast members following the conclusion of the TV phenomenon in 2001.

As stated by Felker, several performers required a good deal of encouragement to participate because they had left the series behind and found themselves disenchanted with its superficial glitz.

‘You all start somewhere and there’s nothing to be ashamed of,’ says Felker. 

‘There’s nothing to be ashamed about being in a Britney Spears video.

As a die-hard fan, I can confidently say that being part of Baywatch felt nothing short of iconic. It’s hard not to feel proud when associated with something so cool!

‘Although it didn’t win an Oscar, it made a massive impact on popular culture. Therefore, I believe it’s worth embracing these aspects.’

Nevertheless, the vast majority of the show’s stars do appear – among them the biggest of them all, David Hasselhoff.

In his account, despite being compensated and earning an executive producer title, Felker grew disappointed with the project due to its prolonged production period.

He mentioned that for his generation, producing a documentary is typically done within three weeks, involving just two shooting sessions followed by editing right away.

After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries

In a more natural and conversational way: “He asked, ‘What’s this? Is it even real?’ To which I replied, ‘Well, according to my bank statement, it seems to be very real, since it appears to be taking money away.’

Over the course of time, it seems his optimism waned considerably. However, our conflicting initiative eventually came to fruition, which might have contributed to this situation.

‘He was like, “well, I’ll just do it. I’m going to do it now”.’

Regardless, Felker expresses that he holds no ill will towards either Hasselhoff or Anderson – emphasizing his effort to portray their stories truthfully and faithfully.

His favorite stories though, were those of the smaller stars in the Baywatch firmament, among them that of Michael Newman, the only real lifeguard in the series, who talks about the impact that a 2006 diagnosis of Parkinson’s has had on his life.

Another favorite is Jackson, now 43, to whom he became close. 

‘Jeremy’s story is really important,’ says Felker. 

‘There’s a lot of criticism and judgment about him, which is just not based in reality.

He’s admitted to his former struggle with drug addiction and takes responsibility for his actions. However, he’s an inspiring example of overcoming adversity as he is no longer the same person he once was.

According to Felker’s statement to DailyMail.com, Jackson has made efforts to aid his ex-wife Loni Willison, but these attempts have been largely unsuccessful due to her ongoing struggles with mental health issues and substance abuse.

After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries
After Baywatch director Matthew Felker reveals REAL reason why Pamela Anderson refused to appear on new Hulu docuseries

He said: ‘The girl has severe mental illness. It’s not his fault that she has severe mental illness. 

‘She wants and chooses to be homeless. He didn’t drive her to be homeless.

‘It’s a tough thing for him because he is super empathetic. You wouldn’t think so because he’s this jacked, bearded like mountain man guy that looks like a MMA fighter.

He’s very emotionally perceptive, and when he encounters comments about Willison, it genuinely affects him negatively.

‘But because of what he looks like, people assume he’s a monster.’

Currently, Felker is engaged in creating a documentary alongside Dita von Teese that he’s producing. However, his affection for Baywatch persists, and he believes that the initial series continues to be something worthy of pride, even amidst the criticisms it faced back then.

He stated: ‘If you’re being mocked on Saturday Night Live and people are criticizing you, then you must have accomplished something noteworthy.’

“Even though you won’t take home the Emmy award this year, your show has definitely struck a chord with people. You should feel very proud of that accomplishment. After all, it’s far more valuable to create a program that resonates with viewers than to produce one that wins an Emmy but fails to attract an audience.

‘The opinion about it varies, but I’d feel incredibly honored to be among its cast or creators, as it truly embodied genius and was a cultural phenomenon for a full decade. Without a doubt, it had a significant impact on my generation.’

Read More

2024-10-19 17:35

Previous post Strictly’s Jamie Borthwick enjoys dinner with a mystery blonde after shutting down romance rumours with pro partner Michelle Tsiakkas