Pamela Anderson gave an emotional speech at the amfAR Gala in Venice, opening up about being diagnosed with hepatitis C in the late 1990s, when her doctor told her it was effectively a death sentence with roughly ten years to live. She described how the diagnosis affected her decisions and mental health, linking it to feelings of shame and guilt tied to childhood sexual abuse, before revealing she was declared hepatitis C free by 2015 after a cure became available in 2011. She was presented with amfAR's Award of Courage on the night, reflecting the organisation's work on hepatitis C alongside its core HIV/AIDS mission.

Anderson said the ordeal, though costly and painful, ultimately fuelled a career resurgence that has included acclaimed roles in "The Last Showgirl", "The Naked Gun", "Rosebush Pruning" and the Venice-premiering "Place to Be". The Hilton Molino Stucky gala, hosted by Taika Waititi, also honoured artist Marina Abramović with the Award of Inspiration, and featured a high-value charity auction including a Warhol painting for €160,000 and an Abramović-donated lot, complete with a private lunch and video artwork, that fetched €500,000.