Armie Hammer ‘checks into a treatment program’ for ‘drug, alcohol, and sex issues’

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Armie Hammer has checked into a Florida-based ‘treatment program’ for ‘drug, alcohol, and sex issues’ amid his infamous cannibalism scandal and allegations of rape that prompted an LAPD investigation in March. 

The Rebecca actor, 34, is said to have left the Cayman Islands, where he has spent much of the last year, and has been staying at an in-patient facility outside of Orlando, since May 31. 

Hammer allegedly reached out to his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers in ‘late May,’ telling the TV personality that he ‘was ready to seek treatment – and pledging to stay at the facility as long as it takes to get healthy,’ according to Vanity Fair. 

He was reportedly seen arriving at Grand Cayman airport on Saturday, May 29, with Chambers and their two children by his side, for what sources described as an ’emotional’ sendoff between the exes.

‘Elizabeth and kids dropped him off [at the airport] and walked in as far as allowed,’ an eye witness claimed on social media. ‘A lot of hugs and seemed emotional.’ 

A family friend told Vanity Fair the actor is ‘committed to getting healthy and having custody of his kids’, adding ‘This is a clear sign that he is taking back control [of] his life and knows that this [is] a step towards his overall well being.’ 

Hammer, who is typically based in Los Angeles, has been residing in the Cayman Islands since late December in order to be with their daughter Harper, six, and son Ford, four, after being separated for several months due to visa issues amid the coronavirus pandemic. 

Chamber and Hammer put an end to their marriage in June 2020 after 10 years together, with each of them sharing a statement to Instagram confirming the split. 

A ‘close friend’ of the actor’s explained to Vanity Fair that ‘everyone looks at Armie thinking that he’s had some sort of privileged life—and that must mean there were no problems in his youth and everything was peachy keen.’

Hammer happens to be the great-grandson of oil tycoon Armand Hammer, who passed away in 1990 and left an estimated $180million fortune to Armie’s businessman father Michael, according to Business Insider.

The Rebecca actor’s ‘friend’ continued: ‘But that’s not necessarily the way things go. Just because you come from an upbringing where financial resources are plentiful doesn’t mean life isn’t without problems.’ 

Armie’s woes began in January 2021 when he was rocked by accusations of abuse by several ex-girlfriends along with a series of leaked messages online, purported to be from the star, discussing cannibalism fetishes and rape fantasies.

The now infamous direct messages, which were never confirmed to have been sent by the actor, were originally published by an Instagram account named House of Effie. 

After the DM leaks, several of Hammer’s former partners – including Paige Lorenze and Courtney Vucekovich – accused him of being controlling and physically abusive during the span of their relationships.

Hammer’s estranged wife Elizabeth – whom he married in 2010 and split from in July of last year – broke her silence on the matter in February, when she said she was ‘shocked, heartbroken, and devastated’ and insisted she will always ‘support any victim of assault or abuse’.

Following the scandal, Hammer left several projects including upcoming film Shotgun Wedding opposite Jennifer Lopez. He was replaced by Josh Duhamel.

Things took an even darker turn in March when a woman named Effie came forward to accuse the Call Me By Your Name star of violently raping her in hotel room during their four-year relationship.

Specifically, Hammer was accused by the 24-year-old of forcing himself upon her during an incident in April 2017, where she claims he ‘committed acts of violence’ against her which she ‘did not consent’ to.

During a press conference with her attorney Gloria Allred, Effie alleged: ‘On April 24, 2017, Armie Hammer violently raped me for over four hours in Los Angeles. During which he repeatedly slapped my head against a wall bruising my face.

‘He also committed other acts of violence against me to which I did not consent.’

According to Variety, Effie said she thought Hammer was ‘going to kill’ her, and claimed he beat her feet during the alleged attack ‘so they would hurt’ and said she tried to leave ‘but he wouldn’t let’ her.

Effie alleges she met Hammer on Facebook when she was 20, and admitted to falling in love with the actor, although she now believes she fell victim to ‘manipulation tactics’.

She claimed: ‘He would often test my devotion to him. He abused me mentally, emotionally and sexually.’

Shortly after, the LAPD confirmed it was investigating the actor after a ‘community member’ came forward with an attorney on February 3 2021 with a sexual assault claim.

However, Hammer has denied the allegations made against him, and his lawyer has provided screenshots of alleged text conversations between him and Effie which seemingly suggest he told her they couldn’t pursue a relationship, though these are not verified.

In one message, Hammer allegedly told Effie: ‘I am not going to be able to engage in you in that specific way right now. It never ends well. We can talk and be friends, but I can’t do that.’

The actor’s lawyer also said Hammer’s encounter with Effie was ‘completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance, and mutually participatory’.

In a statement, the lawyer said: ‘Effie’s own correspondence with Mr. Hammer undermines and refutes her outrageous allegations. As recently as July 18, 2020, [she] sent graphic texts to Mr. Hammer telling him what she wanted him to do to her. 

‘Mr. Hammer responded, making it clear that he did not want to maintain that type of relationship with her.

‘It was never Mr. Hammer’s intention to embarrass or expose [Effie’s] fetishes or kinky sexual desires, but she has now escalated this matter to another level by hiring a civil lawyer to host a public press conference.

‘With the truth on his side, Mr. Hammer welcomes the opportunity to set the record straight. From day one, Mr. Hammer has maintained that all of his interactions with [Effie] — and every other sexual partner of his for that matter — have been completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance, and mutually participatory.

‘[Effie’s] attention seeking and ill-advised legal bid will only make it more difficult for real victims of sexual violence to get the justice they deserve.’