Armie Hammer has addressed the cannibalism allegations that affected his Hollywood career, expressing gratitude for his experiences over the past three years. Speaking on the ‘Painful Lessons’ podcast, Hammer described the accusations from 2021 as ‘hilarious.’
‘People called me a cannibal, and everyone believed them. They’re like, ‘Yep, that guy ate people,'’ Hammer said with a laugh.
‘Like what? What are you talking about? Do you know what you have to do to be a cannibal? You have to eat people! How am I going to be a cannibal?! It was bizarre,’ he added.
In 2021, Hammer faced accusations of sexual abuse and misconduct from multiple women. Private messages, allegedly from Hammer, detailing cannibalistic fantasies and sexual fetishes, were leaked online. Following the scandal, Hammer was dropped by his agency, WME, and departed from several projects, including the Paramount+ series ‘The Offer’ and Jennifer Lopez’s ‘Shotgun Wedding.’
‘Even in the discrepancies, in whatever it was that people said, whatever it was that happened, I’m now at a place in my life where I’m grateful for every single bit of it,’ Hammer said.
The actor noted that prior to the allegations, he never knew how to give himself love or self-validation because his job allowed him to receive it from many others.
‘I’m actually now at a place where I’m really grateful for it because where I was in my life before all of that stuff happened to me,’ Hammer said.
‘I didn’t feel good. I never felt satisfied, I never had enough. I never was in a place where I was happy with myself — where I had self-esteem,’ he added.
Hammer described the accusations as causing ‘an ego death, a career death,’ leading him to join a 12-step program.
He likened the impact to a neutron bomb going off in his life, destroying his ego and revealing who his true friends were. Despite this, he expressed gratitude for his health and resilience.
While acknowledging his diminished status in the Hollywood system, he revealed he is writing a script with a friend, creating his own artistic path.
Also Watch | 2024 Tony Awards: ‘Merrily We Roll Along’ and ‘Stereophonic’ triumph; a look at the big winners