Armie Hammer exits Broadway play The Minutes

‘Right now I need to focus on myself and my health for the sake of my family,’ the actor said

Armie Hammer has exited the Broadway play The Minutes.

The Tracy Letts’s play was originally set to debut in March 2020 but has been delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. As of now, production is set to resume during the 2021-2022 season.

“I have loved every single second of working on The Minutes with the family I made from Steppenwolf [Theatre]. But right now I need to focus on myself and my health for the sake of my family. Consequently, I will not be returning to Broadway with the production,” Hammer said in a statement on Friday (2 April).

The team behind The Minutes also said in a statement: “Armie remains a valued colleague to all of us who have worked with him onstage and offstage on The Minutes. We wish only the best for him and respect his decision.”

Hammer is currently facing a rape allegation, which the actor denies. Earlier this month, a woman identified as Effie publicly accused theCall Me By Your Name star of raping and abusing her, which Hammer’s attorney denied, calling the assertions “patently untrue”.

In March, the Los Angeles Police Department confirmed it was investigating Hammer as part of a probe into alleged sexual assault.

Earlier in the week, Hammer was dropped from another film, Cold War thriller Billion Dollar Spy.

In January, the actor stepped back from his role opposite Jennifer Lopez in the film Shotgun Wedding after messages allegedly sent by him surfaced online. At the time, Hammer described the claims as “bulls***”.

According to Variety, Hammer’s schedule is now completely clear of any future projects.

If you have been raped or sexually assaulted, you can contact your nearest Rape Crisis organisation for specialist, independent and confidential support: www.rapecrisis.org.uk.