Thread by @kellyblaus

Last night, @billmaher discussed the Armie Hammer case on his @HBO show. The conversation included several completely inaccurate details. With a platform as large as his, the misinformation he spreads is incredibly harmful to domestic violence and sexual assault victims.

Bill Maher and his guest @MattWelch repeatedly said that the incidents of sexual assault and domestic violence alleged by Armie Hammer’s victims were consensual.

This is absolutely NOT the case.

Armie Hammer is not some guy with a kink. He committed domestic violence and rape.

Bill Maher claimed the women “who were objecting this now, who went out with Armie Hammer willingly and stayed in willingly and apparently there wasn’t physical bad stuff happening.”

This is inaccurate and perpetuates a culture of ignorance about the nature of domestic violence.

We’ve had these conversations in domestic violence circles for decades now. The idea of victims of domestic violence not being real victims because they stayed in an abusive relationship is so incredibly harmful.

Staying in a relationship is not indicative of that relationship being healthy.

In fact, it’s often the polar opposite.

Because of things like coercive control, Stockholm Syndrome, and PTSD, leaving an abusive relationship can be impossible.

Of course, we all know that the most dangerous time for a domestic violence victim is when they are trying to escape. The most domestic violence homicides occur within 3-6 months following the breakup.

Bill Maher used his enormous platform to have a very public conversation about a topic he very clearly did not understand. He did not bother to do the bare minimum amount of research. And he shared these falsehoods with so many people.

Bill Maher also focused almost entirely on the “cannibalism kink” and made several jokes about cannibalism. This is something that’s been particularly detrimental to Armie Hammer’s victims.

The story about the abuse Armie Hammer’s victims endured is being covered up by the media sensationalizing the concept of cannibalism instead of focusing on the domestic violence and sexual assault. That’s why the story keeps being framed as a guy with a kink instead of a RAPIST.

When Maher’s guest @CharlotteAlter mentioned that there might have been “some physical stuff” like slapping and carving his initials into a victim’s body, Bill Maher laughed and responded:

“Did he tie her down and do that? I don’t think so.”

Then, @MattWelch argued that the victim “wasn’t trying to get free when that thing [the initial carving] was done.”

How does he know this? Well, his reasoning is apparently based on the appearance of the carving and how it “looks like a tattoo gone slightly wrong.”

There are so many things wrong with Welch’s argument.

He’s presenting unresearched assumptions as though they’re facts.

He’s saying the victim wasn’t trying to get free when he absolutely does not know that.

Perhaps most disturbingly, Matt Welch is conflating a victim not physically fighting her abuser (who is also 6’5) while he has a KNIFE TO HER BODY with somehow making that act consensual.

Seriously, @MattWelch? @billmaher?

The victims said Armie Hammer love bombed them.

It’s worth noting here that “love bombing” is not just something the victim made up. It is a widely used term in the field of domestic violence.

Love bombing is part of the grooming process, when abuse victims are manipulated and–to put it simply–brainwashed by their abusers.

Domestic abusers use love bombing as a means to erase boundaries and gain psychological and emotional control over their victims.

Bill Maher:

“You know, the women said ‘at first he love bombed me, it was great, yeah.’ Well if you’re gonna swim with the alpha sharks it’s not gonna come out well in the end. Shouldn’t you know that? Is that really that hard to figure out without the law getting involved?”

This is pretty blatant victim blaming.

Basically: ‘You were manipulated and abused? Well, too bad, you should’ve known better. That’s on you.’