Featured Image Credit: CBS Los Angeles / Shutterstock
Topics: Film and TV, US News, Netflix, Crime, True crime
Tom Fenton
Topics: Film and TV, US News, Netflix, Crime, True crime
A new Discovery+ documentary about the rape allegations against American actor Armie Hammer has been slammed by one of his accusers.
According to 26-year-old 'Effie', who isn't giving her real name due to fears of retaliation, the feature will 'do more harm than good' in it's attempt to detail the case against Hammer.
In 2021 she alleged that the Social Network star had 'violently raped' her, which he vehemently denies.
Speaking through his attorney, Hammer insists that all of his sexual encounters have been 'completely consensual, discussed and agreed upon in advance and mutually participatory'.
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In the opinion of Effie, filmmakers Elli Hakami and Julian Hobbs' documentary has had a negative impact on her emotional recovery.
Speaking to the LA Times, Effie says producers on the documentary reached out to ask if she would be interviewed for the film.
She responded: "It is extremely inappropriate of you to exploit such a tragic, vulnerable time in many people’s lives, with no regard whatsoever for our healing process and privacy."
She added in a statement to the Times: "The way they've been exploiting my trauma is disgusting. When I keep screaming 'no' and they keep going, saying they don't need my permission, they remind me of Armie."
Screenshots of Effie's Instagram account, as well as conversations with Hammer, are included throughout the documentary.
Effie also criticised her long-time attorney Gloria Allred's involvement, which she apparently didn't disclose to her client.
Allred stated to the LA Times: "Statements that I have made on behalf of clients have been made because the statements were consistent with our representation, were authorised either explicitly or implicitly, and were made because I believed that the statements were in the client's best interests."
She did not comment directly on Effie's claim, citing attorney-client privilege.
Responding to Effie's comments, Julian Hobbs, one of the House of Hammer filmmakers, told the LA Times: "[Effie]‘s been vocal that she thinks that making any form of media out of these events is somewhat problematic.
"As filmmakers, we don’t take that view. We feel we actually have an obligation to tell the stories.
"If you were to stop making films because someone said they didn’t want a film being made, you would never make a film. The reality is not everyone gets onboard films.
"That being said, I think what you have to be is ethically on the right side of how the affairs are conducted. You have to be open and transparent about what’s going on with the film, and you have to be inclusive."
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