A lawyer for the victim contacted police, prompting the LAPD’s sexual assault department to open an investigation on Feb. 3, a police spokesman told CNN. Hammer has denied the rape allegation.
On Thursday, Los Angeles attorney Gloria Allred introduced her 24-year-old client, identified only as Effie, who said she had been raped by Hammer.
Effie, who lives in Europe, said she had a romantic and intimate relationship with Hammer from 2016 to 2020. She was 20 when she met Hammer on Facebook and “fell in love with him instantly,” she said. .
She claims that Hammer would often test her commitment to him and push her limits. He reportedly became “increasingly violent,” Effie said.
“He has abused me mentally, emotionally and sexually,” she said through tears on Thursday.
Effie accused Hammer of violently raping her for more than four hours in Los Angeles on April 24, 2017. She said he had committed acts of violence against her that she disagreed with, such as hitting her feet with a crop. It hurt her to walk for the next week, Effie said.
“I thought he was going to kill me,” she said.
Effie said she lived in fear of him and tried to dismiss his actions towards her as a “twisted form of love.” Effie said she even lost interest in life because of what she claims happened to her.
In a statement, Hammer’s attorney refuted Effie’s claims as “outrageous,” saying that all of Hammer’s interactions with her and other partners were “fully consensus, pre-discussed and agreed, and mutually participatory.”
“Effie[‘s]… own correspondence with Mr. Hammer undermines and refutes her scandalous allegations, “said Hammer’s attorney Andrew Brettler.” Also on July 18, 2020, [she] sent graphic texts to Mr. Hammer telling him what she wanted him to do to her. Mr. Hammer replied, making it clear that he didn’t want to maintain that kind of relationship with her. “
Brettler’s statement contained what he said was a screenshot of an explicit text conversation between Hammer and Effie.
“It was never Mr. Hammer’s intention to embarrass or expose [her] fetishes or kinky sexual desires, but she has now taken this matter to another level by hiring a civilian attorney to host a public press conference, ”he said.
Allred said it was “extremely traumatic and triggering” for Effie to speak about these allegations.
Effie said she feels deeply guilty for not coming out sooner, but hopes her story will inspire “survivors of sexual assault around the world” to come forward with their stories in the hope of justice.
“Despite the emotional price she has paid for speaking her truth, she has found the courage to discuss what she thinks happened to her for two reasons,” said Allred. First, she wants to warn other women who may come into contact with Mr. Hammer of potential risks in their relationship with him.
Second, Effie has been approached by many others who claim they have also been victims of Mr. Hammer in the sexual relationship they have had with him, she added.
Allred said there are no plans to file a lawsuit at this time, but evidence has been turned over to police that could aid in an investigation into Hammer.
“We think it is important to investigate these serious allegations,” said Allred. “We look forward to hearing whether Mr. Hammer, instead of his representatives, will be willing to assist investigators in their search for the truth.”
In January, the 34-year-old actor released a statement following allegations made by his ex-girlfriend Paige Lorenze, stating that all sexual activities outside of his marriage were “ completely consensual in that they were fully discussed, agreed upon and mutually participatory. . ”