Hollywood scion and actress Dakota Johnson made a dig at disgraced actor Armie Hammer during a speech at the Sundance Film Festival’s opening night that left social media users uncomfortable.
Johnson, who is the daughter of actors Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith, made a speech at the “Taste of Sundance” dinner in Park City, Utah to honor director Luca Guadagnino.
The Fifty Shades of Grey actress made a joke about almost landing the role of the peach in Guadagnino's 2017 gay film adaptation of the eponymous book, Call Me By Your Name.
She said she ultimately turned it down because their "schedules conflicted."
The quip was in reference to the most talked about scene from the movie in which Timothée Chalamet's character, Elio Perlman, erotically services himself with a partially-eaten peach.
However, Johnson wasn't finished with the joke.
She mentioned Chalamet's Call Me By Your Name co-star, Armie Hammer, who had been accused of violence, sexual and physical abuse of women–including allegations of cannibalism.
Johnson continued:
“Thank god, though. I would have been another woman that Armie Hammer had tried to eat.”
\u201cDakota Johnson jokes that she wasn\u2019t cast in #CallMeByYourName: \u201cLuca had asked me to play the role of the peach, but our schedules conflicted. Thank God, because then I would have been another woman that Armie Hammer tried to eat.\u201d\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
In the book version of Call Me By Your Name, Hammer's character eats the peach left by Elio.
Johnson–who appeared in Guadnagnino's films, Suspiria (2018) and A Bigger Splash (2015)–continued by referring to the famed director's 2022 film, Bones and All–also starring Chalamet—whose character and girlfriend are into eating human flesh.
Said Johnson:
“Who knew cannibalism was so popular?”
People thought Johnson should stick to acting.
\u201c@Variety And this is supposed to make you laugh? \ud83d\ude44\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety It's not funny\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety The joke is extremely distasteful\u2026\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety That's not cool!! If a man said that about a woman, everyone would come unglued. So, why is this ok??\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety Girl didn't u defend him \ud83d\udc40\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
Johnson worked with Hammer in The Social Network (2010) and once again in Wounds (2019).
Around the time his allegations surfaced in 2021, Johnson defended Hammer along with other male leads she worked with in the past who were accused of misdeeds.
She disappointed fans after telling The Hollywood Reporter she felt "sad" her costars' careers were "canceled" as a result of their sexual harassment and physical abuse allegations.
She said of Hammer and other male actors–including Shia LaBeouf and Johnny Depp:
"I had an incredible time working with them; I feel sad for the loss of great artists.”
Johnson continued weighing in about overcoming alleged cancel culture in Hollywood.
"I do believe that people can change. I want to believe in the power of a human being to change and evolve and get help and help other people."
"I think there’s definitely a major overcorrection happening."
After mocking Hammer at the "Taste of Sundance" dinner, Johnson was called out on her hypocrisy.
\u201c@Variety She needs to keep her mouth shut Dakota was defending armie and other abusers\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety how ironic given she defended him lol\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety The same man she was defending not too long ago??\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety It\u2019s the lime situation all over again\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety Nasty and crass but I shouldn\u2019t be surprised, she\u2019s advocated for him and other abusers to get their jobs back because they\u2019re \u201cso talented\u201d \ud83e\udee0\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety Girl shut up.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
\u201c@Variety That\u2019s a disgusting joke if it is one. Trying to get publicity at whatever cost. Arnie hammer has been to rehab and this is a sick joke . Have you heard of triggers? Relapse. Shame? I did like u, but your joke was off.\u201d— Variety (@Variety) 1674187537
Hammer—who was dropped by his talent agency and personal publicist—reportedly sought rehab for drugs, sex and alcohol at an in-treatment facility.
He denied all accusations of sexual misconduct.