Armie Hammer, the actor known for his roles in Call Me By Your Name and The Social Network, has been in the spotlight recently for more than just his acting career. In a candid conversation on The Louis Theroux Podcast, Hammer addressed some of the most controversial rumors surrounding his personal life, including claims of cannibalism and reports of questionable behavior during a hunting trip. The actor, now 38, opened up about these topics in an effort to clear his name and reflect on the fallout from these scandals, which have drastically impacted both his career and his personal relationships.
During the podcast episode, Hammer discussed a hunting trip where he admitted to biting into the heart of an animal. He explained that this act was part of a rite of passage among his male friends, a way to prove oneself during a first hunting experience. “You take a bite out of the heart, and you’ve got all your buddies around you, they’re goading you on,” he said. “It’s sort of like an almost overly charged male rite of passage when you go hunting for your first time.” Hammer emphasized that this was not about cannibalism or sexual gratification, as some had speculated, but rather a moment of camaraderie and initiation. He also clarified that he did not actually eat the heart, stating, “It was not for the purpose of any cannibalism or any sexual gratification.”
However, the conversation took a more serious turn when Theroux brought up the cannibalism allegations that had been made by some of Hammer’s ex-partners. Hammer denied these claims outright, pointing out the absurdity of the idea. “You know what you have to do to actually be a cannibal? You have to actually eat human flesh. So, no,” he said with a mix of frustration and disbelief. These allegations first surfaced in January 2021, when Hammer’s ex-girlfriend Courtney Vucekovich claimed he had once told her he wanted to “break [her] rib and barbecue and eat it.” Hammer has consistently denied this claim, calling it bizarre and unfounded. In a 2024 appearance on the Painful Lessons podcast, he even mocked the idea, saying, “People called me a cannibal, and everyone believed them. 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.”
The cannibalism rumors were just one part of a larger wave of controversy that began in 2021, when Hammer’s ex-girlfriend Effie Angelova accused him of violently raping her during their four-year affair. Hammer vehemently denied the allegations, and after an investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department, the case was closed in May 2023 without any charges being filed. Despite this, the accusations, combined with the cannibalism rumors, caused significant damage to Hammer’s reputation. His career began to unravel, with multiple projects being canceled or postponed, and he became a tabloid fixture.
Hammer also reflected on the personal fallout from these scandals, acknowledging that his behavior had hurt many people. “I left a lot of people in that wake very angry at me for my behavior … a–hole behavior,” he admitted. “Does it make me a d–k? Absolutely. Like, I have no problem admitting that I was a d–k. That’s not illegal.” While he denied any illegal wrongdoing, Hammer took responsibility for his poor behavior, which he described as selfish and hurtful. This admission came after years of personal drama, including the end of his 13-year marriage to Elizabeth Chambers in July 2020. The couple, who share two children, settled their divorce in 2023.
In the years since these scandals broke, Hammer has been working to rebuild his life and career. While the road to redemption is long and uncertain, his willingness to confront these topics head-on suggests an effort to move forward. As the conversation on The Louis Theroux Podcast made clear, Hammer is grappling with the consequences of his actions, both real and alleged, and trying to separate fact from fiction in the public eye. Whether he can fully rehabilitate his image remains to be seen, but for now, Hammer seems determined to be honest about his past, even as he works to redefine himself for the future.
