Pamela Anderson praises Assange as stars arrive for amfAR gala
The former "Baywatch" star has been a high profile advocate for Assange.
(REUTERS) - Pamela Anderson said people should be proud of her friend Wikileaks founder Julian Assange as she arrived for the glamorous amfAR AIDS charity gala on the French Riviera on Thursday (May 23).
The former "Baywatch" star has been a high profile advocate for Assange who was arrested in London last month, paving the way for his extradition to the United States on charges related to one of the biggest-ever leaks of classified information.
"He s just an incredible person and more people should be proud of him because he s ruffled a few important feathers, powerful feathers," Anderson said, adding they had been introduced by fashion designer Vivienne Westwood.
Stars including Kris and Kendall Jenner, Eva Longoria, Dua Lipa and Rebel Wilson walked the red carpet with Anderson before the chic party which takes place at an exclusive hotel on the Mediterranean coast.
The annual event includes a huge auction of artwork, fashion and experiences which has over the years raised millions of dollars for AIDS research.
Mariah Carey and Tom Jones were set to sing at this year s event and the British star said there was a recording collaboration between the two in the pipeline after a chance encounter at an LA restaurant.
The event will be co-hosted by actor and comedian Chris Tucker who described the crowd as "tough" but said he was capable of getting their attention.
The gala comes at a critical time for AIDS research after an HIV-positive man in Britain became the second known adult worldwide to be cleared of the AIDS virus.
AmfAR chair William Roedy said the news was positive but that the treatment involved could not be scaled up meaning that people should not be complacent about the need for continued funding.
The gala takes place when stars are in town during the Cannes Film Festival and this year actors with films in competition, including Antonio Banderas, put in an appearance.
Andie MacDowell said she had attended the screening of one of the most hotly-anticipated movies -- Quentin Tarantino s "Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood" which is in contention for the Palme d Or.
The actress and model said she had loved the movie, whilst confessing to a certain bias as it features her daughter Margaret Qualley.
The film festival runs until Saturday though some categories wind up earlier including Un Certain Regard whose jury president, director and actor Nadine Labaki, took a break from watching movies to attend the amfAR gala.
"I take it as if I am playing a part in a film," she said of the event.
