Armie Hammer looked vastly different from his Hollywood leading man heyday as he debuted a new look on an extremely rare public outing this week. The 39-year-old Call Me By Your Name star, who was canceled in 2021 over sexual assault allegations and disturbing claims about cannibalism, debuted a rugged look during a stroll in West Hollywood.
New Physique and Style
Hammer, who is now attempting to rebuild his once-glittering acting career, sported a moustache, deep tan and a broader, muscular physique during his walk. This marked the first time he has been seen publicly in a year. The Actor Award nominee failed to raise a smile during the outing, which came the same day the trailer for his film Citizen Vigilante dropped on Wednesday.
Return to Leading Role
This marks Hammer's first leading role since his cancellation, in the UWE Boll thriller. Hammer plays Sanders, a man who takes justice into his own hands as he sets out to hunt down criminals. His vigilantism transforms him into a hero in the eyes of the public and a social media star, but the local police chief views him as a danger to society and vows to apprehend him.
German filmmaker Boll has become a controversial figure directing panned films including Alone In The Dark and BloodRayne.
Fall from Grace
Hammer fell from grace when a series of disturbing allegations were made against him by multiple women, who accused him of violent abuse and harboring cannibalism fantasies. He was investigated by the LAPD in 2023 but ultimately wasn't charged.
Earlier this year, the actor reflected on the controversy during an appearance on the Your Mama's House podcast. He said: "The world seemed like it was falling apart, and people were just deeply unhappy with their own lives. Then this salacious story comes out about an actor wanting to murder and eat people. And all of a sudden, everyone's like, 'Oh, this is so much more fun to focus on than the fact that I can't leave my living room.'"
Hammer went on to explain how the media storm spiraled as more stories emerged, adding: "If anyone took anyone's bedroom conversations, even if it was completely vanilla, and read it out of context, everyone would go, 'You guys are f---ing disgusting.'"
Financial and Mental Toll
He also revealed how the scandal hit his finances and mental health. "I was so broke, I had to sell my truck because I couldn't afford gas anymore," he shared. When asked if he was losing his mind during the fallout, he admitted: "I was just in full panic mode."
He explained how the persona he had built up was shattered, leaving him exposed and vilified: "There would be articles in The Punjabi Times about how I was a cannibal...and in March 2021, I was the fifth most-searched person on Google, and all of it was negative."
Describing the toll it took on him, Hammer said: "You're just left standing there naked in front of the world, with all your proclivities and kinks being judged. That s--- is tough."
Reflections on Past Behavior
Hammer also reflected on his past behavior with women, admitting that he used them to feed his ego. "People were my bags of dope with skin on it," he said on the podcast. "Having people want to have sex with me gave me a sense of power and validation."
He confessed to using women for his own gratification and leaving them feeling used, explaining: "I would scoop these girls up, take them on whirlwind trips, have great sex, and then just bounce, leaving them feeling like they were sucked into this tornado."
The actor, who has previously shared his own trauma of being sexually assaulted by a pastor at 13, revealed he's been in therapy and reflecting on his actions.
Family and Future
He shares two children, daughter Harper and son Ford, with his ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers, and they have been co-parenting since their 2020 split. He also spoke about his children, acknowledging that they might one day feel the effects of his actions. "I'm well aware that my daughter and son are gonna get to a point where they do therapy, and they'll say, 'I hate my dad, too.'"
Despite the fallout, Hammer recently shot a film, Frontier Crucible, with William H. Macy. "I wouldn't say I'm back," he said, "but I'm working."
