Nowadays, everyone has a podcast; you might have even thought about creating one yourself. But you must ask, “Does anyone else really want this?” The answer is probably not, and in the case of Armie Hammer, the answer is definitely not.
Armie Hammer, the actor known for his roles in “Call Me By Your Name” and “The Social Network,” was accused of engaging in cannibalistic behavior (yes, you read that right), rape and sexual misconduct in 2021 and promptly left the Hollywood scene. Now, almost four years later, he has decided to make a return to the limelight with a new podcast, “Armie HammerTime,” and a role in a new film. On Instagram, Hammer posted a video announcing his new endeavors, saying, “Some of you are going to love this, and some of you are going to hate this. I’ve been gone for the past four years, and now I’m back — what are you gonna do?” What most people should do is not tune in. His attitude brings up questions about allowing alleged sexual abusers to make a comeback and what we, the public, are going to do about it.
With that sentiment in mind, allowing Hammer to return to the spotlight seems morally inept. Following his content, listening to his podcast and watching his movie only gives him a platform from which he can disseminate potentially harmful ideas. When speaking on his past allegations, he said, “Whatever it was that people said, whatever it was that happened, I’m now at a place in my life where I’m grateful for every single bit of it.” This kind of rhetoric, especially in reference to the very serious allegations made against him, shouldn’t have a space on any platform. While some may argue that the podcast could be a space for him to grow and learn from his experiences, he discussed the premise being an interview with a guest about a niche topic. Even on the podcast, which has already released three episodes, he does not mention the allegations and does not use the podcast as a way to show growth.
Hammer’s podcast seems like a crafted PR move attempting to revive his image after the accusations left his reputation in shambles. And yet, this move only makes him look worse. The description of the podcast reads, “Armie sits down with extraordinary people from all walks of life as he rebuilds his own. Don’t worry… we feed him before every episode,” an obvious nod to his accusations of cannibalistic fantasies. Clearly, the idea was to joke about the absurdity of the allegations against him in a way to appear to be in on the jokes that were made about him following the cannibalism claims. Instead, the line seems thoughtless, coupled with the fact that there were also actual claims made about rape and sexual misconduct along with cannibalism. Even though it has been four years, his willingness to make jokes about the event without remorse is an indicator of his character.
Hammer’s case might seem like an isolated incident, but unfortunately, it’s not (besides maybe the cannibalism). Alleged sexual abusers have attempted time and time again to make a comeback to the same space they had before the accusations came to light. For example, Rex Orange County, a famous singer and songwriter, was accused back in 2022 of six counts of sexual assault. Unlike Hammer’s case, Rex Orange County had significant evidence that cleared his name, ultimately discrediting the charges. Since then, he has returned to music and performed on a concert tour. In cases like Rex Orange County and Hammer’s, the argument of the authenticity of accusations comes into debate. With the unreliability of information on the internet and access to artificial intelligence and systems that can create virtually anything, making false claims has become easier. Despite that notion, it is crucial to believe victim’s stories. Not believing victims of sexual crimes and not giving them spaces to feel comfortable with coming out about abuse allows offenders to go without punishment. Out of 1,000 sexual assaults, 975 perpetrators will walk free. So, welcoming celebrities back into the spheres and platforms they once had seems objectionable.
Hammer’s move to the podcasting world comes at a time when everyone has decided to become a podcaster. Many have begun to note the lack of interest in this abundance of podcasts that no one asked for. A recent topic of discussion in the social media spheres is male podcasts and how not every man needs to have a podcast. This take applies to Hammer; he’s just another man whose ego leads him to believe everyone cares what he has to say. Podcasting, just like every other form of content, is becoming one-dimensional and dull, with every new podcast copying one before it. Besides the fair and justified reasons for not listening to the “HammerTime” podcast, at the end of the day, he’s just another man who believes everyone wants to listen to him talk for an hour.
Everyone’s creating a podcast, and if there is one you really shouldn’t listen to, it’s “HammerTime.” Based on his history, Hammer’s comeback to the spotlight seems insensitive and callous, especially concerning his commentary on his past. Allowing alleged offenders to return to social media and fame is still a hot topic of debate, but when it comes to Hammer, I urge potential listeners to reconsider and find an alternative. I’m sure there’s one out there.
Rachel Servidio, FCRH ’26, is a communications and culture major from Poughkeepsie, N.Y.
