Armie Hammer had his career effectively killed by the cannibalism accusations. While having a career ended seems like a bad thing, Hammer is “grateful” for the experience.
Appearing on the Painful Lessons podcast, Hammer reflected on the “hilarious” allegations. The situation began in 2021 when Hammer was accused of sexual abuse by several women. Private messages that were leaked seemingly alluded to his sexual fetishes which included cannibalism, derailing his career.
“There were things that people were saying about me that felt so outlandish. People called me a cannibal, and everyone believed them. They’re like, ‘Yup, that guy ate people,'” Hammer said, laughing. “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.
Now at a good place?
“Even in the discrepancies, 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 it,” Hammer continued.
Before the allegations, Hammer said that he “never knew how to give myself love” or “self-validation.” This stemmed from a job (being an actor) “where I was able to get it from so many people.” If he ever felt down, Hammer would go on social media and get validation from fans. Still, he wasn’t fully happy.
Nowadays, Hammer is in a better place, he alleges. During his glory days, Hammer was never “in a place where I was happy with myself” or with “self-esteem.”
“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,” he said. “I didn’t feel good. I never felt satisfied, I never had enough.”
The cannibalism accusations resulted in an ego and career death, per Hammer. Later in the interview, he reflected on how the accusations showed his friends’ true colors.
“It’s almost like a neutron bomb went off in my life,” Hammer explained. “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. But the buildings were still standing. I’m still here, I still have my health, and I’m really grateful for that.”
While Hammer is not being hired for projects, he revealed he wrote a script with a friend inspired by the Painful Lessons podcast’s host. He doesn’t know what the future will look like for the project, but “those are things that are out of my control. I’m powerless over what people’s response to it is going to be.”
Armie Hammer’s career before cannibalism accusations
Before the cannibalism accusations, Armie Hammer’s career was taking off. He began his career with roles in Blackout, Flicka, The Social Network, and J. Edgar. His big breaks came when he starred in The Long Ranger (in the title role) and The Man from U.N.C.L.E.
In 2017, Hammer starred in Call Me by Your Name directed by Luca Guadagnino. He starred in the film opposite Timothée Chalamet, who was also making a name for himself at the time. He followed that up with a voice role in Cars 3.
From there, Hammer starred in Sorry to Bother You, Rebecca, Crisis, and Death on the Nile.
Follow Us
Subscribe