Armie Hammer has finally broken his silence regarding the bizarre cannibalism allegations that have haunted him for years. The 37-year-old actor addressed these claims during a recent appearance on the “Painful Lessons” podcast, shedding light on the accusations that have significantly impacted his life and career.
Hammer described the allegations as “outlandish,” expressing disbelief over the public’s readiness to accept such extreme claims. “People called me a cannibal, and everyone believed them,” he said. “They’re like, ‘Yep, that guy ate people.’ You’re just like, ‘What? What are you talking about?’ It was bizarre.”
The actor, known for his role in “Call Me By Your Name,” reflected on how these accusations have affected his self-perception and mental health. He mentioned that he now feels “grateful” and has developed a sense of self-esteem that he lacked before. “I’m now at a place in my life where I’m grateful for every single bit of it,” Hammer stated. “I never knew how to give myself love or self-validation, but I had this job where I was able to get it from so many people that I never had to learn how to give it to myself.”
In addition to the cannibalism claims, Hammer faced accusations of sexual assault and emotional abuse, which led to his professional downfall. Despite an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, no charges were filed against him. Hammer has consistently denied any criminal wrongdoing.
On the podcast, Hammer discussed the profound impact these allegations had on his life, describing it as an “ego death” and a “career death.” He likened the experience to a neutron bomb going off, destroying his ego and revealing the true nature of those around him. “It killed me, it killed my ego, it killed all the people around me that I thought were my friends that weren’t — all of those people, in a flash, went away,” he said. “But the buildings were still standing. I’m still here, I still have my health, and I’m really grateful for that.”
Hammer has not appeared in a film since 2022’s “Death on the Nile” and admitted that his career is currently “nowhere” due to the accusations. However, he revealed that he is working on a script with a friend, indicating a potential shift in his professional focus.
The actor’s former girlfriend, Effie Angelova, accused him of “violently” raping her and abusing her “mentally, emotionally, and sexually” in 2017. Multiple other women also came forward with similar claims, including one who alleged that Hammer expressed a desire to “break my rib and barbecue and eat it.” These allegations were explored in the 2022 Discovery+ docuseries “House of Hammer.”
Hammer has vehemently denied these allegations, calling them “bulls – – t” and attributing them to “vicious and spurious online attacks.” Following the accusations, he was dropped from several high-profile projects, including “Shotgun Wedding” with Jennifer Lopez and the Broadway play “The Minutes.” His agency, WME, also severed ties with him.
In 2023, Hammer revealed that he came close to taking his own life amid the scandal. “I just walked out into the ocean and swam out as far as I could and hoped that either I drowned, or was hit by a boat, or eaten by a shark,” he told Air Mail in February 2023. “Then I realized that my kids were still on shore, and that I couldn’t do that to my kids.”
Hammer shares two children with his ex-wife, Elizabeth Chambers. The couple married in 2010 and separated in July 2020.
The allegations against Hammer first surfaced in January 2021 when an Instagram account shared explicit messages allegedly sent by the actor. These messages included discussions of rape fantasies, inflicting pain, and cannibalism. While the authenticity of these messages has been questioned, several women who were romantically involved with Hammer have corroborated the claims.
One of Hammer’s ex-girlfriends, Courtney Vucekovich, described her relationship with him as emotionally abusive and claimed that he expressed a desire to “barbecue and eat” her. Another ex-girlfriend, model Paige Lorenze, alleged that Hammer carved his initials into her skin and was “100 percent serious” about removing her ribs for consumption.
Despite the severity of these allegations, some people have defended Hammer. Former Disney Channel star Bella Thorne publicly supported him, dismissing the claims as fake. However, the majority of public opinion has been critical, leading to Hammer’s professional and personal isolation.
Hammer’s past behavior and social media activity have also come under scrutiny. Fans have revisited his interviews and social media posts, interpreting them as potential red flags. In one interview, Hammer casually mentioned eating a raw steak, which some now view as a disturbing anecdote in light of the cannibalism allegations.
As Hammer continues to navigate the fallout from these accusations, he remains focused on rebuilding his life and career. While the future remains uncertain, his recent statements suggest a man who is trying to find a path forward amid the chaos.
