Ray J thinks his sex tape with Kim Kardashian altered the course of porn history, but some in the game say otherwise … highlighting Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton as the OGs.

You may have heard Ray’s hot take this week — namely, that his sex tape with Kim from 2007 paved the way for OnlyFans and the adult entertainment industry at large — but Riley Reid, a bona fide OF star these days, is kinda crapping on his opinion.

Play video content

TMZ.com
Riley — who has over 2 million followers — tells TMZ … yes, Ray and Kim’s sex tape was influential at the time, but she actually gives more credit to Pam and Tommy Lee‘s sex tape — which was stolen and illegally released — a bit more historical credit in this regard.

Play video content

Club Shay Shay
In terms of Ray trying to paint himself as the seminal trailblazer for OnlyFans … Riley says that’s just not the case — instead, she cites capitalism, greed and tech for that … and says Ray’s impressive manhood had very little (if anything) to do with OF getting off the ground.

RR isn’t alone in her opinion about who changed the game with a sex tape. We got porn star Kaden Kole — who also does OF — out in L.A. Thursday … and she gave props to Paris’ 2004 sex tape, which she says Ray isn’t giving enough credence to in his review.

Play video content

TMZ.com
Kaden says the Ray/Kim tape certainly helped make sex tapes more “socially acceptable” … but that’s about it in the annals of porn history — at least from her POV, that is.

As for the Ray J/Kim tape paving the way for OnlyFans … Kaden kinda says … nah, bro. She thinks other platforms, like FB, IG, Twitter and even Myspace, allowed fans to connect with their favorite XXX stars … and it also led to porn becoming more widely spread.

She agrees with Riley on technology … it got better and amateurs saw how much money could be made … and THAT, she argues, paved the way — not Ray and Kim banging.

Vivid Entertainment

The duo concurs on Ray J helping nudge things in the right direction  … but others came before them, and normies came after to really bring it home.

Pam Anderson & Paris Hilton: Trailblazers Before Ray & Kim Banged!

In the world of celebrity, few have had the same level of influence and media scrutiny as Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton. Long before Kim Kardashian’s infamous tape with Ray J became a topic of public fascination, Pamela and Paris were already making waves in the media and establishing themselves as cultural icons in their own right. They trailblazed paths through the entertainment industry that would lay the groundwork for the realities of modern celebrity culture, including the rise of the infamous celebrity sex tape phenomenon.

Both Anderson and Hilton made headlines in the early 2000s for their audacious personalities, bombshell looks, and ability to dominate tabloids. But their stories are about more than just the salacious details that often define celebrity gossip—they represent the evolving landscape of fame, image, and empowerment in a world where personal lives are constantly under a microscope. Let’s take a look at how these two women helped shape the world of fame and how their impact continues to resonate today.

Pam Anderson’s Rise to Fame: From Baywatch to Iconic Status

Pamela Anderson became a household name in the early ’90s with her role on the hit TV show Baywatch. Her role as a lifeguard on the beach captivated audiences worldwide, and her striking beauty made her one of the most recognizable figures of the decade. But Anderson wasn’t just known for her acting skills—she quickly became a symbol of the “sexy” image that was often pushed in Hollywood during this era.

However, it wasn’t just her role on Baywatch that made her a household name. Anderson’s personal life was just as heavily scrutinized, especially her tumultuous marriage to rock star Tommy Lee. Their whirlwind romance and infamous honeymoon sex tape made international headlines, drawing attention to the phenomenon of celebrities intentionally or accidentally becoming part of sex tape scandals. Though it was intended to be a private recording, the tape quickly found its way to the public, setting a precedent for the future.

Despite the controversy, Anderson used her fame to her advantage, maintaining a successful career in acting, modeling, and even in business ventures. Her name became synonymous with boldness, glamour, and the exploitation of celebrity culture, but she always managed to retain an air of empowerment that many other stars lacked.

Paris Hilton: The Heiress Who Made Headlines

Paris Hilton, on the other hand, had a different route to fame. As the heir to the Hilton Hotels fortune, Paris was no stranger to the spotlight, but she quickly reinvented herself as a media personality. Her rise to stardom came with the debut of The Simple Life, a reality TV series where Hilton and her best friend, Nicole Richie, navigated life in the “real world” by doing menial jobs. The show made Hilton one of the most famous socialites in the world, but it also played into the public’s fascination with her lifestyle of privilege, excess, and public scandal.

However, it wasn’t just her TV show that made Hilton a global name—it was also the release of her 2004 sex tape with ex-boyfriend Rick Salomon. Like Anderson’s infamous video, Hilton’s tape, titled 1 Night in Paris, quickly became a major news story. While Hilton initially fought against the spread of the video, she later embraced the attention, seeing it as a chance to capitalize on the media’s obsession with her.

Hilton’s tape and the resulting media circus only added fuel to the fire of her public persona as a party girl, fashion icon, and influencer. She redefined what it meant to be famous in the digital age, where personal scandals were not only inevitable but often fueled public careers. Paris’s sex tape was the spark for the rise of an entirely new form of celebrity culture—one where personal lives, especially ones involving intimacy, could be commodified and marketed.

The Kim Kardashian & Ray J Scandal: A Cultural Milestone

The release of Kim Kardashian’s 2007 sex tape with Ray J is often credited as the moment when the celebrity sex tape became a mainstream phenomenon. Kim had already been part of the celebrity scene due to her association with the Kardashian family, but the viral nature of the tape skyrocketed her into the public’s eye. What had once been an incident of scandal now became a full-fledged marketing tool.

Kardashian herself has since commented on the impact of the tape, acknowledging that it played a major role in launching her career. However, the reality star also made it clear that the tape was never meant to be part of her public image. Yet, it inadvertently helped shape the reality-TV empire she now oversees.

It’s important to note, however, that both Anderson and Hilton had paved the way for Kardashian and others to capitalize on personal scandal. While the Kim K-Ray J tape undoubtedly had a massive impact on pop culture, Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson were the first to show that being linked to such tapes could lead to fame—and in some cases, a career boost.

The Evolution of Fame: From Scandal to Empowerment

What sets Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton apart from the Kardashians is their evolving relationship with their image. While both women were initially thrust into the spotlight due to controversial moments, they each found ways to take control of their narratives. Anderson, despite the negativity surrounding her sex tape with Tommy Lee, continued to build a multifaceted career and remains an advocate for animal rights and environmental causes. Paris Hilton, now a successful entrepreneur, has managed to turn her notoriety into a platform for empowering young women and promoting her own business ventures. Her brand, which spans from beauty to fashion to tech, proves that Hilton took her media image and used it as a vehicle for success.

On the other hand, the Kardashians’ ability to brand themselves through media scandal is a direct result of what Paris and Pam started. Both Anderson and Hilton proved that tabloid fodder could be monetized, and in doing so, they carved a path that would forever change the dynamics of celebrity culture. The Kardashian family’s empire is a testament to how the line between scandal and business has blurred in modern fame, where every part of a celebrity’s life can be transformed into a source of income.

The Impact on Modern Celebrity Culture

Pamela Anderson and Paris Hilton didn’t just trailblaze in terms of their infamous tapes—they rewrote the rules for what it means to be a celebrity. They taught us that fame could come from controversy and that scandal could be turned into an asset. Before the Kardashians and other social media stars, Anderson and Hilton were the ones making headlines for their personal lives—and today, that formula continues to dominate the celebrity landscape.

In a way, their legacies are tied to the era of reality TV, influencer culture, and the ever-growing power of social media. Today, influencers and celebrities like Bella Thorne, Blac Chyna, and countless others use similar tactics to build and maintain their fame, proving that Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson were ahead of their time.

Conclusion: The Underrated Legacy of Paris Hilton & Pamela Anderson

Paris Hilton and Pamela Anderson were the pioneers of a new form of fame, one where scandal, media attention, and personal stories became the key to success. Long before Ray J and Kim Kardashian made headlines, these two women were redefining what it meant to be a star in the public eye. Their legacies have lived on in ways they may never have imagined, showing that personal scandal, when leveraged correctly, can turn into a powerful and profitable platform.

While they may not have had the same type of social media empire the Kardashians boast today, their trailblazing ways laid the foundation for today’s celebrity culture, where the lines between personal lives and public image are often blurred, and almost anything can be turned into a business opportunity.