Armie Hammer has admitted that he “scraped” his initials into ex-girlfriend Paige Lorenze’s groin with the tip of a knife during their four-month relationship.
However, the Call Me By Your Name star stressed that he didn’t “brand” her, as she had previously alleged, and that “there wasn’t even blood”.
In a new interview with Piers Morgan, Hammer – who accused of rape and sexual misconduct by multiple women in 2021 – said of the incident: “I wouldn’t say brand, no.”
“There was a scenario that we talked about beforehand, that we had discussed where, you know, I would basically take a little, tiny point and just kind of trace the letter ‘A’ – just like the tip of a small knife.”
He added: “I mean, there wasn’t even blood in the situation. It was more like a scrape… It’s along the lines of couples getting their own initials tattooed on each other.”
When Morgan suggested that using a knife was “a bit different to a tattoo”, Hammer replied that it “was less permanent. I guarantee it was such a small thing.”
After Morgan said he was “shocked” by Hammer’s admission, the actor replied: “Yes, I think to some it probably sounds really strange. To some, it probably sounds like a very romantic gesture.”
In 2021, Hammer was accused of rape and sexual misconduct by multiple women, notably by one woman named Effie, who shared screenshots allegedly sent by the actor in which he shared cannibalistic fantasies.
Hammer – who was dropped by his agent and publicist in the wake of the allegations and exited a number of projects – has denied the accusations, and the Los Angeles County District Attorney’s office said last year that it would not pursue a case against the actor in regards to Effie’s allegations.
In a recent interview with Bill Maher, the actor explained how the overall experience had been had been “incredibly liberating”, even though he’s now “broke”.
“Therapy for me has been a life changer,” he told Maher. “I needed an adjustment. There was some shit going on. Here’s what I think would have happened had none of this gone on and like the cataclysmic tectonic shift in my life wouldn’t have happened. My life would have kept going exactly as it was, and I know that would ultimately only lead in one place and that’s death.”
He added: “I experienced an ego death, a career death, a financial death – all of these things, right? And [Carl] Jung talks about this. Joseph Campbell talks about this. You’ve got to die, and once you die you can then be reborn. A phoenix isn’t going to rise if there’s no ashes.”
Last year, Hammer addressed claims of sexual misconduct from two women, Courtney Vucekovich and Paige Lorenze, denying any criminal wrongdoing but admitting he “one million per cent” emotionally abused them. During the 2023 interview, Hammer also said he attempted suicide in 2021 in the wake of the allegations, while also revealing he was sexually abused aged 13.
For help, advice or more information regarding sexual harassment, assault and rape in the UK, visit the Rape Crisis charity website. In the US, visit RAINN.