Armie Hammer is best known for his roles in films like Call Me By Your Name and The Social Network. He made a name for himself as an actor with talent and good looks. He was married to Elizabeth Chambers for ten years, before their split in 2020. It was after that, however, when things began to unravel.
Hammer has recently been the center of bizarre rumors and serious allegations. However, recent information has come to light which is causing people to look at the situation differently. We might have some new insight as to who may have been behind this scandal and what their motives could have been.
What Happened To Armie Hammer?
Hammer's marriage to Chambers was said to be on the rocks when the pandemic started. Hammer escaped to the Cayman Islands and spent his summer there in quarantine. He was joined by his father, stepmother, Chambers, and their two children.
According to sources, Hammer was desperate to escape the Caymans and booked a flight back to the United States. Reports said that Chambers was furious that Hammer would leave his family in the middle of a pandemic. She considered it the final straw and filed for divorce in July 2020.
By the time 2021 arrived, Hammer was spotted with a series of women and appeared to be rebounding.
"2021 is going to kneel down before me and kiss my feet because this year I’m the boss," Hammer tweeted. "2020 was a cheap shot no one was expecting. Now I know what we are up against and it’s time to go to war."
In mere weeks, however, a user on Instagram identified as Effie posted alleged screenshots of private messages she exchanged with Hammer. Those messages contained Hammer allegedly describing fantasies involving cannibalism.
Around the same time, Courtney Vucekovich, another ex of Hammer's, spoke to Page Six about their relationship. Vucekovich claimed to have dated Hammer from June to October said Hammer was emotionally abusive. She also claimed he fantasized about cannibalism.
In March 2021, Effie accused Hammer of assault and physical abuse during their on-and-off relationship, which lasted four years. The LAPD wrapped the case without pressing charges in December. Their investigation lasted nine months. It has since moved on to the LA County District Attorney, whose office says the case is ongoing. Effie is the only woman on the record accusing Hammer of sexual assault.
Hammer said the screenshots were fake and denied the other allegations, saying the encounters were consensual. He dropped out of a romantic comedy with Jennifer Lopez and a series about the making of The Godfather. Hammer's agency, WME, dropped him as well.
In the months to follow, several women spoke about their alleged encounters with Hammer. Stories surfaced about his family's history and their rumored dark past. This led Discovery+ to make a docuseries, House of Hammer, exploring these topics. The series premiered on September 2.
Hammer's Ex Was Allegedly Behind Smear Campaign
CNN and Page Six have both published stories claiming Chambers used a friend's email account to contact media outlets about Hammer. CNN claims this was done both before and after the allegations against Hammer surfaced publicly.
A former friend of Chambers, who wished to remain anonymous, provided the outlets with emails and screenshots of text messages. These show Chambers allegedly posed as this person to contact press outlets. The person who came forward did so because they feel things "went too far." They added that they were just trying to "support my friend while she was going through a difficult divorce."
Text messages between Chambers and the former friend showed them discussing the charade. This person claimed that Chambers would stand beside her while she was on the phone with press outlets, telling her what to say.
CNN reports that Chambers contacted a media outlet on October 15, 2020 though this account. Chambers told the outlet that Hammer abandoned her and their children during the pandemic to spend time with actress Lily James. This was just weeks before Netflix debuted Hammer and James' film Rebecca.
According to Page Six, this message came during the same month Hammer filed for joint custody of their two children. James' representative has previously denied rumors of her having an affair with Hammer.
Effie took to Instagram in September and posted messages allegedly between her and Chambers. These messages were sent during that same period. In the messages, Chambers asked Effie if she retained a lawyer and encouraged her to come forward. Chambers urged her to seek representation and Effie eventually hired Gloria Allred.
Page Six reports that in one message, the former friend asks Chambers if Effie is okay.
"Yes, she’s just dramatic," Chambers allegedly wrote. "And they’re all crazy."
In a statement to People, Chambers' representative said, "Given the extent and nature of allegations that were made, Elizabeth sought to determine the veracity of those allegations. She was very sensitive to all parties involved. The safety and well-being of their children remains her priority."
CNN obtained images of emails dated January 13, 2021, which show Chambers allegedly contacting the same reporter she previously reached out to. Chambers is seen writing about how Hammer was photographed poolside, despite the allegations being made against him, "smugly living his most privileged life as his career burns to the ground."
Chambers spoke with E! News prior to CNN's story breaking, where she claimed she and Hammer were in a "really great place" with their co-parenting. She also said the family is focused on healing.
Gloria Allred No Longer Represents Hammer's Accuser
Page Six also reported the bombshell news that Gloria Allred is no longer representing Effie. A source told the outlet that Effie fired her after she disapproved of Allred's involvement in the House of Hammer series. Allred, however, denied she was fired, but confirmed that she no longer represents Effie. No reason was provided.
It's unknown if Effie currently has new legal representation.
Effie criticized the series and said it "exploited" her trauma in an interview with the LA Times. She also told the outlet she was unaware that Allred would be appearing in it.
Allred later claimed her statements in the series "were authorized either explicitly or implicitly."
This past summer, Hammer was mocked on social media when it was reported that he now works as a timeshare salesman in the Cayman Islands. The hotel in question denied this was true. Given these new revelations, was the mocking deserved? Or was Hammer the victim of a smear campaign? We might never know the truth, but it appears we're getting closer.
