Armie Hammer will not be charged with sexual assault, the Los Angeles District Attorney’s Office announced Wednesday. The actor was under investigation after a former romantic partner publicly accused him of rape in 2021.
“Sexual assault cases are often difficult to prove, which is why we assign our most experienced prosecutors to review them. In this case, these prosecutors conducted an extremely thorough review, but determined that at the time presently, there was not enough evidence to charge Mr. Hammer with a felony,” bureau communications director Tiffiny Blacknell told Yahoo Entertainment.
“As prosecutors, we have an ethical responsibility to only charge cases that we can prove beyond a reasonable doubt. We know that it is difficult for women to report sexual assault. Even when we cannot to prosecute, our victim services representatives will be available to those seeking our victim support services,” Blacknell continued. “Due to the complexity of the relationship and the inability to prove a forced non-consensual sexual encounter , we are unable to prove the case beyond a reasonable doubt.”
Hammer released a statement shortly after the decision was announced. He thanked the prosecutor’s office and “everyone who helped me through this time.” THE Social network The star said he was looking forward to beginning what will be a long and difficult process of rebuilding my life now that my name is cleared.
Hammer had been under investigation for two years, after a woman, who identified herself as Effie, claimed to have violently raped her in 2017. Effie also accused him of mental, emotional and sexual. Hammer vehemently denied his claims.
In January 2021, Hammer found himself embroiled in a sex scandal as private messages were leaked that allegedly showed the actor expressing interest in cannibalism and rape fantasies. Hammer broke his silence on the controversy in February and revealed that his interest in BDSM was due to the sexual abuse he suffered as a child.
“What it did for me is it introduced sexuality into my life in a way that was completely out of my control,” he told Air Mail. “I was powerless in the situation. I had no agency in the situation. My interests then went to: I want to be in control of the situation, sexually.”
Hammer said a BDSM encounter he had with his rape accuser was consensual and “his idea.”
“She planned out all the details, right down to the Starbucks where I would see her, how I would follow her home, how her front door would be opened and unlocked and I would walk in, and we would engage in what’s called a ” consensual scene without consent,” CNC,” Hammer explained, adding that they “only had one CNC event scheduled.”
Hammer admitted that his behavior towards his partners could be considered emotionally abusive.
“I’m here to own up to my mistakes, to take responsibility for the fact that I was an a**hole, that I was selfish, that I used people to make me feel better, and when I was done, I moved on,” said the call me by your name star explain. “And treated people worse than they should have been.”
[Editor’s note: This story was originally published on April 17, 2023 and was updated to reflect the new statement from the Los Angeles District Attorney’s office.]