Entertainment

Armie Hammer is stepping down from his next movie 'Shotgun Wedding' after alleged 'vicious' attack involving explicit DMs

armie hammer
Armie Hammer is stepping down from his role in "Shotgun Wedding." Dia Dipasupil/Getty Images
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Armie Hammer has dropped out of Lionsgate's upcoming action rom-com "Shotgun Wedding" co-starring Jennifer Lopez.

"Given the imminent start date of 'Shotgun Wedding,' Armie has requested to step away from the film and we support him in his decision," a production spokesperson confirmed to Insider via email.

The role will be recast.

The news comes days after the "Call Me by Your Name" actor was trending on social media for alleged NSFW direct messages, which involved discussions of sexual acts and cannibalism.

Representatives for Hammer did not respond to Insider's inquiry on the veracity of those messages.

In a statement to Variety the actor said: "I'm not responding to these bulls--- 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."

"Lionsgate is supporting me in this and I'm grateful to them for that," the actor added in the statement.

"Shotgun Wedding," which is being directed by Jason Moore ("Pitch Perfect"), follows a wedding party taken hostage at a destination wedding.

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Kirsten Acuna was a correspondent on Business Insider's Entertainment team covering TV, movies, and theme parks. She is Businness Insider's resident expert on all things "The Walking Dead." YKirsten covers superheroes and all things Disney (Marvel, Pixar, and live-action remakes). She is a verified film critic on Rotten TomatoesKirsten has previously written for TV Guide and Time Out New York Kids. She joined Business Insider's entertainment team in 2012 as a reporter, helping to build the team from two people. She holds a degree in magazine journalism and minors in both English and child family studies from Syracuse University.Follow her on Twitter @KirstenAcuna.