Armie Hammer has been the subject of intense social-media scrutiny since claims of a cannibalism fetish began spreading in January; when an anonymous Instagram account posted unverified purported DMs with the actor. Now, the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) has confirmed that it is investigating Hammer as the main suspect in a rape and sexual assault allegation.
A woman has also accused him of a “violent” rape that took place in 2017. The accuser spoke at a press conference on Thursday.
It all started when the Instagram account @houseofeffie posted dozens of screenshots of direct messages; claiming Hammer had sent women between 2016 and 2020. The woman who shared the screenshots, who has identified herself only as Effie; is the woman who accused Hammer of rape in Thursday’s press conference, according to Variety.
The messages in the screenshots, which are currently unverified, referred to fantasies involving domination and cannibalism, among other claims.
Hammer and his team have vigorously denied certain allegations against him, such as the allegation of rape. He is yet to respond to the other allegations. Hammer said in a January 13 statement to People, “I’m not responding to these bulls— claims. But in light of the vicious and spurious online attacks against me, I cannot in good conscience now leave my children for 4 months to shoot a film in the Dominican Republic. Lionsgate is supporting me in this and I’m grateful to them for that.”
Armie Hammer has been dropped by two projects. This includes a series on Paramount’s forthcoming streaming service about the making of The Godfather. His agency and his publicist also dropped him in January.