Shocking Hazing Allegations Against Jon Hamm Resurface Decades Later

Actor Jon Hamm, best known for his award-winning role as Don Draper on AMC’s “Mad Men,” is facing renewed scrutiny after decades-old hazing allegations resurfaced this week.

British news outlet Daily Mail published a detailed story on Tuesday revisiting allegations from Hamm’s time at the University of Texas in the early 1990s.

The allegations focus on Hamm’s involvement with the Sigma Nu fraternity, where he was reportedly a highly active member during his college years.

Hamm participated in extreme hazing rituals that allegedly led to severe physical injuries for at least one fraternity pledge, according to the Daily Mail.

The article, which coincides with the Daily Mail’s new podcast series exploring celebrity controversies, claims that one pledge “suffered a fractured spine and nearly lost a kidney” as a result of the 1990 hazing event.

The pledge reportedly endured several abusive incidents, including Hamm allegedly setting the pledge’s belt loop on fire, which then spread across his jeans.

Perhaps the most serious accusation involves Hamm allegedly using a claw hammer to drag the pledge around a room by his genitals during the hazing ritual.

The Daily Mail reported that after publishing the article, they reached out to Hamm directly for comment regarding the resurfaced allegations.

Hamm expressed irritation upon being contacted that the outlet had called his personal phone line rather than going through official representatives.

“I’m a little bit offended that you called my personal line. That’s why we have representatives,” Hamm allegedly told the Daily Mail reporter.

Hamm characterized the call as “inappropriate” and made it clear he did not wish to comment further on the matter.

Hamm acknowledged that the allegations were not new, emphasizing that the incidents took place decades ago and stating he had no interest in revisiting them.

These allegations are not the first time Hamm has addressed his past fraternity behavior. 

In a 2018 interview with Esquire magazine, Hamm discussed the controversy when asked directly about it.

In the interview, Hamm said, “I wouldn’t say it’s accurate,” when referring to the reports of hazing.

He further commented, “Everything about that is sensationalized. I was accused of these things I don’t… It’s so hard to get into it. I don’t want to give it any more breath.”

During the same interview, Hamm described the situation as “a bummer of a thing that happened,” stating, “I was essentially acquitted. I wasn’t convicted of anything.”

Hamm characterized himself at the time as “a stupid kid in a stupid situation,” and reiterated that he had “moved on from it.”

According to Esquire writer Maximillian Potter, Hamm became visibly uncomfortable when the subject of the fraternity allegations was mentioned.

Potter also reported that Hamm had faced assault charges at the time related to the hazing allegations when he was a 20-year-old fraternity brother at Sigma Nu.

Those assault charges were ultimately dropped, however, and Hamm was not convicted of any criminal offense in connection with the incident.

Contemporary news coverage in Texas newspapers reported on the hazing incident in the early 1990s, and national media outlets, including The Washington Post, resurfaced the story again in 2015.

In the newly published piece, the Daily Mail suggests that there are “calls for Hamm to be canceled” based on the resurfaced accusations. As of now, Hamm has not issued any further statements or formal public responses beyond his brief remarks to the Daily Mail reporter.

Hamm continues to maintain an active career in Hollywood, recently appearing in high-profile projects including “Top Gun: Maverick” and the “Fargo” television series.

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