Armie Hammer has said he is “grateful” for accusations of cannibalism and sexual assault in a new interview.
The actor was accused of rape and sexual misconduct by multiple women in 2021, notably by one woman named Effie, who shared screenshots allegedly sent by the actor in which he shared cannibalistic fantasies.
Hammer – who was dropped by his agent and publicist in the wake of the allegations and exited a number of projects – has denied the accusations, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said last year that it would not pursue a case against the actor in regards to Effie’s allegations. No cases have been brought against Hammer in relation to the allegations.
Speaking on the Painful Lessons podcast, Hammer addressed the claims, saying the cannibal allegation was “bizarre”.
“People called me a cannibal and everyone believed them,” he said. “Now I’m able to sort of look at it with a sense of distance and perspective and be like, ‘That’s hilarious’.
“People called me a cannibal, and everybody believed them. They were like, ‘Yep, that guy ate people’ Like, what? What are you talking about? You know what you have to do to be a cannibal? You have to eat people… It was bizarre.”
Hammer added: “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.
“Because where I was in my life before all that stuff happened to me, I didn’t feel good. I never felt satisfied,” he continued, saying he was able to get validation from his celebrity status and fan praise on social media, and that he was in a “black hole”.
Last year, Hammer addressed claims of sexual misconduct from two women, Courtney Vucekovich and Paige Lorenze, denying any criminal wrongdoing but admitting he “one million per cent” emotionally abused them.
“I would have these younger women in their mid-20s, and I’m in my 30s. I was a successful actor at the time,” he told Air Mail. “They could have been happy to just be with me and would have said yes to things that maybe they wouldn’t have said yes to on their own. That’s an imbalance of power in the situation.”
He added that his behaviour was down to “being an asshole”, saying: “I’m here to own my mistakes, take accountability for the fact that I was an asshole, that I was selfish, that I used people to make me feel better, and when I was done, moved on.
“I’m now a healthier, happier, more balanced person. I’m able to be there for my kids in a way I never was…I’m truly grateful for my life and my recovery and everything. I would not go back and undo everything that’s happened to me.”
During the 2023 interview, Hammer also said he attempted suicide in 2021 in the wake of the allegations, while also revealing he was sexually abused aged 13.
Last year, Hammer’s Call Me By Your Name co-star Timothée Chalamet addressed the claims against the actor, calling them “disorienting”.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.