Armie Hammer | Photo credit: Chris Pizzello
Armie Hammer has spoken candidly about the scandal that derailed his career, and expressed gratitude for the experience. Painful lessons In the podcast, the 37-year-old actor addressed the cannibalism, sexual misconduct, and rape allegations that surfaced in January 2021, which significantly affected his life and career.
Hammer received a wave of praise following his performance. call me by your name (2017) and (2018) when the allegations surfaced. An anonymous Instagram account published alleged messages from Hammer detailing dark sexual fantasies, including references to cannibalism. His ex-girlfriend, Courtney Vucekovich, also accused him of emotional abuse and disturbing cannibalistic desires.
The scandal deepened when another woman accused Hammer of rape, prompting an investigation by the LAPD. Hammer denied any criminal wrongdoing but admitted to being a “selfish scoundrel.” Despite the severity of the allegations, which included claims of emotional and physical abuse, Hammer emerged with a fresh perspective.
Hammer explained, “No matter what people said, no matter what happened, I’m at a place in my life now where I’m grateful for every single thing.” He described his self-esteem before the scandal as a “black hole” and credited the ordeal for helping him gain a new sense of self-awareness and satisfaction.
Hammer also poked fun at the cannibalism rumors, saying, “I can look at it with a sense of distance and perspective and say, ‘That’s ridiculous.’ People used to call me a cannibal and everybody believed them.”
Despite his continued denials of rape and physical abuse, the fallout was huge. The LAPD investigation did not lead to charges and Hammer’s accuser withdrew her name after he refused to sign a declaration under penalty of perjury. Hammer acknowledged the power imbalance and emotional abuse in his relationship, but spoke about the profound impact it had on his life, describing it as tantamount to “ego death” and “career death.”
Hammer, now living in the Cayman Islands, reveals his creative aspirations, including co-writing a screenplay that reflects his life. Despite being unsure about his acting future, he is passionate about his new project, determined to move forward despite Hollywood’s cold attitude.
