Armie Hammer calls message controversy ‘b*******’ as he quits Jennifer Lopez film

The actor hit out at the ‘vicious and spurious online attacks’ against him
2020 E! People's Choice Awards - Backstage
Armie Hammer at an event in 2020
Getty

Armie Hammer has hit out at “spurious attacks" against him after explicit messages allegedly sent by the actor were leaked online.

The actor made the comments while confirming he has dropped out of an upcoming Jennifer Lopez movie following the furore.

Hammer, star of movies including The Social Network and Call Me By Your Name, had been set to appear opposite Lopez in Shotgun Wedding.

However, the American actor, 34, and the production studio have now confirmed he will no longer take the role.

It comes after explicit and sexual messages about rape fantasies, BDSM and cannibalism - which were allegedly sent by the actor to a woman - were leaked. 

Hammer said in a statement to DailyMail.com: “I'm not responding to these b******* 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.”

Armie Hammer comments
Hammer during a recent appearance on the Graham Norton show
PA

He added: “Lionsgate is supporting me in this and I'm grateful to them for that.”

A production spokesman told the PA news agency: “Given the imminent start date of Shotgun Wedding, Armie has requested to step away from the film and we support him in his decision.”

Lopez had apparently been concerned about Hammer staying as the male lead following the allegations.

A source told The Sun: “There have been a lot of phone calls and meetings about if they can still make the movie with Armie as the romantic lead.”

Hammer, who has two children with his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers, began to trend on Twitter over the weekend after the sexually graphic Instagram messages were posted by the anonymous and now private account House of Effie.

One message says: “I am 100% a cannibal. I want to eat you.”

“F***. That's scary to admit,” the message continues. “I've never admitted that before.”

Hammer with estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers
Joe Scarnici/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon

In later messages, the sender calls the recipient a “slave.”

“You just live to obey me and be my slave,” the message reads.

“I will own you. That's my soul. My brain. My spirit. My body. Would you come and be my property till you die?

“If I wanted to cut off one of your toes and keep it with me in my pocket so I always had a piece of you in my possession?”

The messages are yet to be verified.

Some date back to 2016. Some, however, are dated February 2020, when he was still married to his estranged wife.

The couple announced their 10-year marriage was over in July 2020, amid claims of Hammer’s alleged infidelities.

Shotgun Wedding will be directed by Pitch Perfect filmmaker Jason Moore and follows a couple who get cold feet before they are due to walk down the aisle. Things are complicated further when the wedding party is hijacked by criminals.

US actor Hammer played the Winklevoss twins in The Social Network and starred opposite Timothee Chalamet in acclaimed drama Call Me By Your Name.

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