Armie Hammer on How Robert Downey Jr. Supported His Sobriety Journey

It’s well known that Hollywood loves and supports a good comeback, and nobody knows that better than Robert Downey Jr.

The veteran actor battled his way through substance abuse issues, brushes with the law and a bruised reputation to become a Marvel superstar and an Academy Award-winning actor. Behind the scenes, he has, over nearly two decades, been quietly reaching his hand back and helping other stars on their sobriety journeys, an act of service that is a tenet of 12-step programs. Armie Hammer confirmed as such during a new appearance on Piers Morgan Uncensored.

Hammer, who has been on something of a press tour as he opens up on the scandal that claimed his marriage and career, sat for an extended 1-hour and 20-minute interview with Morgan. In addition to facing questions about sexual misconduct and an official police investigation that ended with no charges, Hammer talked about his recovery and the Hollywood support that he’s received along the way. He also cleared up some rumors that have been circulating since a Vanity Fair exposé reported that Downey was a key figure in his recovery.

Asked whether Downey picked up the tab for his residential treatment stay, Hammer refuted the claims. “No, he did not. He did not pay for me to go to rehab.” In an attempt to be discreet and protect those who have guided him in private, Hammer proceeded with caution in answering Morgan’s questions about that support. He confirmed Downey was there for him, saying that, when “anyone in Hollywood who suffers from any sort of addiction issues — whether it be alcohol or process addiction or drugs — decides to get sober, that guy will find you, and he will help you. It’s amazing.”

Hammer then confirmed the best advice he received from the Iron Man star: “‘Sit down, shut up, everything is going to be OK.’” Before he said that, however, Hammer hesitated slightly because he said, “I don’t want to bring anyone else into my situation. There are a number of people who have been extremely helpful, and I’m incredibly grateful.”

He did single out his Call Me By Your Name director Luca Guadagnino for being “vocal and supportive,” as well as Johnny Depp for multiple conversations, which were not directly tied to his situation.

“It is a precarious situation right now. Anyone who vocalizes support comes under fire and I understand my situation was inflammatory and anyone who gets too close might also light on fire,” said Hammer, who seemed to sidestep actually naming names for fear of bringing others into his situation.

He did, however then go on to share an exchange he had with a man named Clark who helped broaden his perspective on the situation, likening it to a house on fire. Hammer said he was frustrated and complaining very early on in his sobriety journey when he was receiving emails from friends (presumably famous) offering their support amid the firestorm of tabloid coverage.

“People are sending me private emails saying, ‘I know this isn’t you,’” Hammer said of the version of him that was being reported about in the press. “Why are you sending me emails? Say something about this. Like, why is everyone saying to me directly, ‘This isn’t real.’ Say it publicly. Like, help me.”

But his friend Clark set him straight by asking, “What kind of friend are you? … You set your house on fire. Your house is burning to the ground, and now, what? You want your friends to run into a burning house with you. What happens to your friends when they run into a burning house?’ I said, ‘They would get burned.’” Hammer then came to the realization that he would want his friends to stay as far away from the house as possible.

Hammer continued: “There’s a difference between me appreciating and celebrating the ones who ran into the fire on their own volition and me expecting or asking them to.”

The appearance on Morgan’s show follows Hammer’s other recent appearances on Bill Maher’s Club Random podcast as well as Tyler Ramsey’s Painful Lessons podcast. The latter appearance found him expressing gratitude for where he’s at in his life these days despite what it cost him along the way.

“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,” Hammer said. “I’m actually now at a place where I’m really grateful for it, because where I was in my life before all of that stuff happened to me, I didn’t feel good. I never felt satisfied. I never had enough. I never was in a place where I was happy with myself.”

See Hammer’s full Piers Morgan interview below.