February 3, 2012

Pam Grier talks about being with Richard Pryor: both were survivors of sexual abuse, and this gave them a profound and deep connection... even when she had to break it off due to his drug addiction.

In this clip, Pam talks about...

Why Richard Pryor thought she was "lame"
"He thought I was lame. Because I didn't do drugs, and he was trying to go cold turkey and he thought because of my influence he would be able to do that successfully. I had asthma, I couldn't do weed - I wish I could have. I would be a different person today. I may not be here tonight."

Leaving Richard
"You become a confidante. He could trust me. And he trusted me when I walked away from him, because he was returning back to drugs and not going to meetings, and I had really - didn't want to be a crutch for him. I'm not a good crutch. And he was upset that I left - 'I'm Richard Pryor, what you mean leaving me?' Well - you are Richard Pryor and I don't want to change you. You have to want to change yourself."