In January 2021, Armie Hammer was accused of s*xual abuse and that’s when his career started derailing. He was accused of rape and of sending s*xually explicit messages online – including cannibalistic fantasies. In 2023, for the first time, Hammer told his side of the story claiming that he was s*xually abused by his youth pastor at age 13. He also denied any criminal wrongdoing but admitted that he was emotionally abusive towards his former partners. Now, he has shared more details about those childhood s*xual abuse.
Armie Hammer About The Childhood Abuse He Had To Go Through
Armie Hammer. Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Recently, actor Armie Hammer came up with new details regarding the abuse he suffered as a child, naming the abuser as a clergyman.
Hammer has previously stated that he had struggled in his personal relationships for the rest of his life as a result of his terrible experience. He has been the target of numerous allegations of mental and s*xual abuse from various women since 2021. Despite an ongoing investigation, no charges have been filed.
The abuse began when Hammer was around 13 years old, he recounted to Club Random. He stated, “I’d say about a year. It was a member of clergy, like that kind of stereotypical kind of trope. It was something I never ever spoke about, and was never open about and never okay with, and had so much shame about.”
Hammer explained that overcoming his past took time, saying, “[I was] like ‘What does that say about me?’ And the answer is, it doesn’t fucking say anything about me. Like, no 13-year-old is like, ‘I want to do this.’ It’s just not the way it goes.”
Known for his role in Call Me By Your Name, Hammer has also discussed how his experiences contributed to his interest in B*SM, a central aspect of the allegations against him. Additionally, he has been accused of cannibalism, which he has denied.
Following the allegations, Hammer focused on self-improvement by attending a 12-step program. He noted that 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.”
Hammer described being canceled as a “liberating” experience, as he no longer felt the need to care about others’ opinions. He also admitted to having emotionally abused some of his partners.
Armie Hammer Reflects on Career Downfall And Thinks That Cancellation Saved His Life
Armie Hammer. Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Armie Hammer opened up about the dramatic shift in his life following accusations of s*xual misconduct in 2021. While the Los Angeles Police Department investigated the claims for two years and ultimately didn’t press charges, coupled with separate allegations of cannibalistic fantasies, the experience significantly impacted Hammer’s career and public image.
Hammer vehemently denied all accusations but acknowledged his past behavior as “terrible,” including infidelity towards his ex-wife and a self-centered approach to relationships. In the same podcast interview, he expressed a belief that facing public condemnation, often referred to as “cancellation,” might have saved him from a destructive path.
“My life would have kept going exactly as it was. And I know that that would ultimately only lead in one place, and that’s death.”
Hammer spoke of experiencing multiple forms of death—ego, career, and financial. According to him, this process allowed for a rebirth. “You got to die. And once you die, you can then be reborn,” he explained.
Hammer elaborated, “Once everyone just decides that they hate you, you go, ‘Oh, well, then I don’t need anything from you people anyway. I guess I should just learn to be content with myself.’ And then you go do that, and it feels f**king amazing.”
Hammer admitted to being “callous and inconsiderate” towards others, including his ex-wife, Elizabeth Chambers, from whom he separated in 2020 after over eight years of marriage. Despite denying the allegations against him, he acknowledged his flawed behavior, stating, “I used people to make me feel better. I was callous and inconsiderate with people and their emotions and their well-being. And I wanted what I wanted, and I was going to take it at any cost, even if it was at an emotional cost of someone else. And that is s*xual behaviour.”
Armie Hammer Reveals He’s “Broke” but “Happier Than Ever”
Armie Hammer. Image Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Armie Hammer also opened up about his experiences following allegations of s*xual assault. Hammer said that while he is financially “broke,” he is “happier than ever.”
“The good place only comes from walking through hell,” Hammer shared. “It was a brutal experience.” He elaborated on his current financial situation, stating, “Someone might look at me and go, ‘Yeah, but financially you are in a very different position than you’ve ever been in your entire life.’ And I look at that and I go, ‘Yeah, and you know what, it’s taught me is that I don’t need that because I’ve never been happier than I’ve ever been in my entire life.’“
Hammer has also revealed his sobriety journey, which began with his entry into rehab to combat addictions to drugs, alcohol, and s*x. “Therapy for me has been a life changer,” he admitted. “An adjustment was needed. There was some stuff going on. Here’s what I think would have happened had none of this gone on, and like the cataclysmic tectonic shift in my life wouldn’t have happened. My life would have kept going exactly as it was, and I know that would ultimately only lead to one place and that’s death.”
Hammer spoke candidly about the profound transformations he has undergone: “An ego death, a career death, a financial death – all of these things were experienced by me.” He referenced the philosophies of Carl Jung and Joseph Campbell, emphasizing the idea that “You’ve got to die, and once you die, you can then be reborn. A phoenix isn’t going to rise if there’s no ashes.”
Reflecting on his past behavior, Hammer admitted, “When drinking, a lot of drugs were done by me. Hard partying was indulged in, and risky behavior was engaged in that, if you really think about it, was stupid!“
In light of these experiences, Hammer’s journey through adversity has led him to a place of greater happiness and self-awareness, despite the financial hardships.
