Armie Hammer continued his recent press tour with an appearance on “Piers Morgan Uncensored” on Friday, where he discussed the aftermath of the sexual abuse allegations brought against him in 2021.
As a result of the allegations — which included rape, engaging in cannibalism fantasies and coercing partners into BDSM scenarios — the “Social Network” and “Call Me by Your Name” actor exited several projects, was dropped by his publicist and agent and became the subject of an LAPD investigation. Ultimately, no criminal charges were brought against Hammer, who has denied the allegations and maintained that all relationships were consensual.
Despite the fallout, Hammer shared with Morgan that some of his former Hollywood colleagues did reach out, including Robert Downey Jr. But when asked about reports that the “Iron Man” star paid for his rehab, Hammer said, “No, he did not. He did not pay for me to go to rehab.”
When prodded as to whether Downey has been “supportive,” Hammer was hesitant to answer.
“I would say that yes, he has,” Hammer said, to which Morgan replied, “You don’t seem convinced, because that was well reported. Is that really not the case?”
Hammer said, “I don’t want to bring anyone else into my situation. There are a number of people who have been extremely helpful, and I’m incredibly grateful.”
Pushed further, Hammer said that Downey was helpful to him “in the way where [when] anyone in Hollywood who suffers from any sort of addiction issues — whether it be alcohol or process addiction or drugs — decides to get sober, that guy will find you, and he will help you. It’s amazing.”
Asked for the best advice Downey gave him, Hammer said: “‘Sit down, shut up, everything is going to be OK.’”
Representatives for Downey did not immediately respond to Variety‘s request for comment.
Morgan also asked whether Hammer’s past co-stars Leonardo DiCaprio (“J. Edgar”) or Julia Roberts (“Mirror Mirror”) had reached out in support, to which Hammer said no.
“I try not to think about the people who didn’t contact me. I try to focus on the people who did, who showed their support,” Hammer said, adding that “a few” notable people contacted him during his tribulations.
“Luca Guadagnino has also been vocally supportive, which is something that I could not appreciate more,” Hammer said. (Asked by Variety in 2022 if he would include Hammer’s character in a hopeful “Call Me by Your Name” sequel, Guadagnino said, “Yeah, of course.”)
Hammer added, “But at the same time, I’m also well-aware that it is a precarious situation right now, and anyone who vocalizes support comes under fire. I understand that my situation was inflammatory, and anyone who gets too close might also light on fire.”
Morgan asked Hammer if his “Lone Ranger” co-star Johnny Depp had been in touch, “given what he went through.”
“We’ve communicated a few times… phone, FaceTime,” Hammer said. “I didn’t bring [my situation] to him, he didn’t bring his to me. It was more of a social call — ‘How are you, good to see you, glad you’re still alive.’ That kind of thing.”
During the hour-and-20-minute interview, Morgan also addressed the allegations that Hammer engaged in cannibalism fantasies, straight up asking him: “Are you a cannibal?”
“No,” Hammer replied. “You know what you have to do to be a cannibal? You have to have actually eaten someone. So, no.”
Expanding on the topic, Hammer said: “I don’t think that’s any different than when someone looks at a baby and goes, ‘Oh my God, look at those cute little fat legs, I just want to eat you up.’”
Hammer also touched on an allegation that he branded a former partner. Though he “wouldn’t say brand,” Hammer admitted to using “the tip of a small knife” to “trace the letter A.”
“There wasn’t even blood in the situation, it was more like a scrape,” he added.
Hammer also recently appeared on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, where he said that being “canceled” was “liberating.”
“Had none of this gone on … my life would have kept going exactly as it was,” Hammer told Maher. “And I know that that would ultimately only lead in one place, and that’s death.”
Though Hammer once again denied all allegations on Maher’s podcast, he did admit to some “bad behavior.”
“I cheated on my wife. I used people to make me feel better. I was callous and inconsiderate with people and their emotions and their well-being. … And that is shitty behavior,” Hammer said. “There are things in my behavior that I have to take accountability for, right? Because that is pivotal for me, learning and growing from it.”
Addressing the LAPD investigation, Hammer said, “I was under the Sword of Damocles, legally speaking, for two and a half years. They went through phones, emails, eyewitness reports… they investigated me for two and a half years in a time where if they could have nailed someone like me, it would have been such a boon for the LAPD.”
Source Agencies
