Following the tragic drowning of four-year-old Daniel Veres during a child’s birthday party at rocker Tommy Lee’s LA home, Pamela Anderson has spoken out in defence of her ex-husband. “Tommy is devastated,” she said. “He can’t believe something this awful could happen at a kids’ birthday party. He is totally crushed by what happened to Daniel.”
“He called me, still crying, and told me the whole story moments after the ambulance rode away,” the Baywatch beauty told UK tabloid The Mirror. “After I heard the story from Tommy’s lips, I told him right away that he didn’t do anything wrong. I told him not to feel guilty. He told the parents of every kid to bring an adult to watch over them. Tommy isn’t to blame for this accident. Not one bit.”
Although police investigating the tragedies have ruled the death an accident, the boy’s father, TV producer James Veres, has hinted he may pursue legal action against the former Motley Crue drummer.
“It was a birthday party like a million other birthday parties and obviously there wasn’t enough help at the pool,” James said. “It’s inexcusable and just amazing to me.”
However, Pamela is quick to defend her ex-husband, who she says is a great father. “Just because it’s Tommy Lee, people just assume he did something wrong,” says Pamela. “People love to talk crap about Tommy as soon as anything happens and they assume the worst from him at all times. But they don’t know that when it comes to the kids, Tommy is as good as can be.”
“Every single child there had someone who was responsible for them. The whole party was a kiddie-family thing and Tommy told every kid that was invited to bring an adult to watch them in the pool,” she says. “How much clearer could he have been? It was child-friendly and family appropriate.”
Daniel’s nanny reportedly left the party early to attend a rock concert, with prior permission from James, who’d arranged for another child’s au pair to take his son home.
Tommy had hoped to host a truly special party for his son Brandon, who has just turned five.
“Tommy – with a little help from the boys – made out the guest list, picked out all the food and goodies, and prizes for the games. He was just as excited as the boys,” says Pamela. “The kids know the difference between a pizza party at Chuck E. Cheese’s that’s all arranged by an assistant, and a big, splashy party put on by their dad.”
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
Photo: © Alphapress.com
