The disturbing allegations against Hollywood star Jon Hamm have resurfaced, revealing his involvement in a brutal fraternity hazing incident during his college years at the University of Texas at Austin.
According to Daily Mail, former pledge Mark Allen Sanders suffered severe physical trauma, including a fractured spine and kidney damage, during a horrific 1990 hazing ritual allegedly led by Hamm at the Sigma Nu fraternity.
Sanders' heartbreaking testimony details a night of relentless abuse that included being beaten with paddles, dragged around by his genitals with a hammer, and having his clothes set on fire.
The violent initiation resulted in lasting injuries that continued to affect Sanders decades later.
Brutal Assault Details Revealed in Victim Testimony
In his statement to Travis County Attorney's Office investigators, Sanders recounted being viciously struck over his kidney area for forgetting to use Hamm's preferred nickname, "MC Hammer."
The severe beating left Sanders with permanent kidney damage that causes recurring pain and spasms. His ordeal also included being forced into a confined dirt-filled space called "the pit," where he was made to perform pushups while his face was pushed into the ground.
Sanders described how Hamm and another fraternity member subjected him to excruciating torture by pulling his underwear in a sawing motion that lifted him off the ground.
The assault escalated when Hamm allegedly set Sanders' designer jeans on fire and forced him to extinguish the flames with his mouth while preventing him from using his hands.
Mark Sanders shared the following testimony about the traumatic experience:
I was hurting really bad and I remember I was looking up at the ceiling and I was gritting my teeth and squinting my eyes ... it was sawing and it was hurting. They were actually pushing my face to get in the dirt. He told me to get my face in the dirt. And then all the pledges are taken out of there, except me. I'm left in there with Jon Hamm.
Legal Consequences and University Response
The brutal hazing incident led to criminal charges against multiple Sigma Nu members. Matthew Dennis, Richard Asel, Todd Bowden, and Christopher Temple pleaded no contest to hazing charges. Dennis, Temple, and Asel received jail sentences and $500 fines, while Bowden was given probation and a $500 fine.
Hamm was arrested for assault in 1993, though the charge was ultimately dismissed after he completed a period of probation. The scandal resulted in the university's Sigma Nu chapter being disbanded.
Sanders later filed a lawsuit against Sigma Nu seeking damages for "willful and wanton misconduct." The case was dismissed in 1993 with both parties' agreement, suggesting a potential out-of-court settlement.
Hamm's Controversial Response to Allegations
When the allegations resurfaced in 2015, Hamm initially remained silent. In 2018, he finally addressed the incident but stopped short of a full apology or denial, describing it merely as a "bummer of a thing that happened" while disputing some of Sanders' claims without specifying which details he contested.
The actor's seemingly dismissive response has drawn criticism, particularly as he has gone on to achieve considerable success in Hollywood, including winning a Golden Globe for his role in Mad Men.
The contrast between his current status as a respected performer and his alleged role in the brutal assault has sparked renewed discussion about accountability for past actions.
The incident has cast a shadow over Hamm's public image, though he has largely avoided directly addressing the full scope of the allegations or offering any substantial explanation for his reported actions during that period.
Summary of Brutal Fraternity Assault Case
Jon Hamm's alleged involvement in a savage 1990 fraternity hazing incident at the University of Texas at Austin resulted in severe injuries to pledge Mark Allen Sanders, including a fractured spine and permanent kidney damage. The assault included beatings, torture, and setting the victim's clothes on fire.
The case led to criminal charges against multiple fraternity members, with Hamm receiving probation after an assault charge. While the actor has achieved significant success in Hollywood since then, his limited response to the allegations and apparent downplaying of the incident's severity have raised questions about accountability for past actions.