Armie Hammer made a rare public appearance on Bill Maher’s “Club Random” podcast, discussing his life and career in the wake of numerous sexual misconduct allegations that have significantly impacted his professional and personal life.
The star of “Call Me by Your Name” and “The Social Network” expressed a surprising sentiment of gratitude for the fallout from the allegations, suggesting it was a necessary wake-up call.
“had none of this gone on … 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, 36, reflected during the podcast.
Following accusations of sexual assault, Hammer exited several film and television projects and was dropped by his publicist and agent at WME. Despite investigations by the LAPD and L.A. District Attorney’s office in 2023, no criminal charges were filed against Hammer due to what authorities deemed “insufficient evidence.” Hammer vehemently denies the allegations, asserting that his relationships, though described as “intense,” were consensual.
When Maher asked if he viewed the allegations as a “blessing in disguise,” Hammer responded emphatically, “1,000,000%. Yeah.”
“I experienced an ego death, a career death, financial death, all of these things. … You’ve got to die. And once you die, you can then be reborn,” Hammer continued.
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Becoming a societal pariah due to the allegations, he explained, was surprisingly liberating. “Once everyone just decides that they hate you, you go, ‘Oh, well, then I don’t need anything from you people anyway,'” Hammer remarked.
Among the disturbing allegations are claims of engaging in cannibalism fantasies, coercive BDSM scenarios, and carving initials into a partner’s body. Hammer categorically denies any nonconsensual behavior but admits to other “bad behavior,” including infidelity and emotional callousness.
“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 acknowledged. “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.”
Regarding the LAPD investigation, Hammer described a prolonged period of legal scrutiny. “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,” he recounted.
Hammer also discussed his brief stint selling timeshares in the Cayman Islands, a job that gained tabloid attention in 2022 after photos surfaced online. Despite the controversy, Hammer expressed genuine enjoyment from the experience.
“I loved it … it is so fun,” he said, noting his willingness to take on various jobs to support his family, including applying for positions like drama teacher and landscaper, despite difficulties obtaining work permits.
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Reflecting on his family’s wealth and why he chose not to rely on it during his challenging times, Hammer explained his stance on independence and the complexities of accepting assistance.
The full interview is available to watch on Maher’s “Club Random” podcast.
