Tommy Lee's Viper Room Controversy Was Worse Than Pam & Tommy Suggests

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Warning: Contains SPOILERS for Pam & Tommy

Here’s why Tommy Lee’s Viper Room controversy was worse than Pam & Tommy suggests. Pam & Tommy Episode 5, “Uncle Jim & Aunt Susie in Duluth” traces the trajectory of a downward spiral after the publicity of the stolen tape, both for the couple in question, along with Rand Gauthier. While the initial episodes offered an exclusive glimpse into Rand’s psyche and point of view, episodes 4 and 5 focus more on Tommy and Pamela’s lives, and how devastating the scandal was for them. The Viper Room controversy was a key incident in the narrative.

Pamela was at a distinct turning point in her career in 1996: having been featured on multiple seasons of Baywatch, she wished to transition into a successful movie career. While the premise of her action-superhero movie, Barb Wire, was arguably not the greatest, the publicity of the tape did not help matters during the film’s promotional process. From having to endure heartbreaking interviews at her expense to being constantly mocked by the media, Pamela was subjected to horrendous harassment just because of the fact that she is a woman.

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On the other hand, Tommy had to deal with fallout too, and he was understandably upset about the public nature of the private tape. However, the way Lee was treated by the media was completely different, as he was mostly given a pat on the back as a means to bolster his “rockstar” persona. Here’s how Pam & Tommy depicts Lee’s Viper Room brawl, as opposed to what really happened in real life, which is far more sinister.

In episode 5, Lee is seen drinking in the Viper Room, and when he goes to the bathroom, two fans greet him, saying that the tape is “the greatest