Baywatch Made Me World Famous. My Stalker Stole My Privacy.

Death, Sex & Money

Slate Podcasts

Business, Health & Fitness, Society & Culture, Careers, Relationships, Sexuality

4.6 • 7.6K Ratings

🗓️ 1 July 2025

⏱️ 53 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

Alexandra Paul always loved connecting with fans. She had many, from her breakout role in the 1983 horror film Christine to her years playing a lifeguard on Baywatch. In 2011, Paul's career was slowing down, but it was also the year that she met her biggest fan: a woman who would come to stalk her for over a decade, costing Paul tens of thousands of dollars in legal bills, strain on her family, and forcing her to move across state lines. The ordeal is now over, and she has lessons to share. In this episode you’ll hear Alexandra Paul read from an essay she published in The Ankler, a newsletter about the entertainment industry. Podcast production by Zoe Azulay. Death, Sex & Money is now produced by Slate! To support us and our colleagues, please sign up for our membership program, Slate Plus! Members get ad-free podcasts, bonus content on lots of Slate shows, and full access to all the articles on Slate.com. Sign up today at slate.com/dsmplus. And if you’re new to the show, welcome. We’re so glad you’re here. Find us and follow us on Instagram and you can find Anna’s newsletter at annasale.substack.com. Our new email address, where you can reach us with voice memos, pep talks, questions, critiques, is [email protected]. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Hey, a quick note before we get started, you may have noticed we've done some renovating at death sex and money.
0:06.7	We have a new show logo for the first time in six years.
0:10.1	I love it.
0:11.1	Take a look if you haven't yet.
0:12.8	The same bold words are there, death, sex, money, but more colors and parts that fit together.
0:18.6	I hope it captures how it feels when you listen.
0:21.7	Some feels dark, some feels bright.
0:24.1	It's all in there.
0:26.1	Thanks to the Slate Art team for their beautiful work.
0:28.9	It's a nice housewarming gift after the team's year plus at Slate.
0:33.4	And let me ask you, if you haven't already, please consider supporting us and Slate by becoming a Slate Plus member.
0:41.7	Particularly if you're someone who noticed right away that we'd redecorated, that shows that we are a part of your routine.
0:49.0	So please help keep us there by becoming a Slate Plus member.
0:52.3	You can sign up at slate.com slash DSM plus.
0:56.0	Right now, membership is $15 for the first three months. You can also sign up on Apple
1:01.5	podcast or Spotify on the Death, Sex, and Money Show page. Thank you. Now on to the new episode.
1:09.6	Maybe we ought to update the American dream.
1:13.3	Instead of a house with a picket fence and yard,
1:15.6	perhaps the more attainable goal is having a small fan base of your own.
1:21.4	To be famous, or at least to be known on the internet,
1:24.9	is ostensibly as easy as having a phone with a mic and a camera,
1:28.7	no down payment or mortgage required.
	...

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