Musk Shares Free Stream of Hammer's Controversial Comeback Film

Elon Musk publicly supported Armie Hammer's controversial return to acting by sharing a free streaming link to the actor's new film on Friday, June 26, 2026. The move gave X users complimentary access to Citizen Vigilante, a German production that has been banned in its country of origin due to its violent content.

According to Variety, the streaming link remained active for 48 hours before being removed. Musk, who acquired Twitter in 2022 and rebranded it as X the following year, used his platform to distribute the film without charge. Director Uwe Boll also shared a link through his own X account.

The film represents Hammer's first significant screen role since sexual abuse allegations emerged in 2021 that effectively ended his Hollywood career. Released in the United States on June 19, 2026, Citizen Vigilante casts the 39-year-old actor as an American abroad in Europe on what Variety described as a blood-soaked mission to eliminate criminal migrants.

German authorities banned the film domestically due to its extremely violent migrant-killing subject matter, according to reporting by The Telegraph. The controversial premise has drawn criticism, and Variety's review characterized the production as so astonishingly bad that it appeared to be deliberately sabotaging Hammer's attempted comeback.

Hammer faced serious allegations in 2021 when he was accused of sending text messages to various women detailing sexual fantasies involving rape, mutilation, and cannibalism. The Social Network star was also accused of raping a woman in 2017. Hammer denied all allegations made against him. Following a 2023 investigation, the Los Angeles Police Department declined to file charges due to insufficient evidence.

In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter published on June 19, Hammer expressed profound gratitude for the opportunity to work again. "I'm pretty sure I cried. It was just this moment where I was, like, 'I'm going to get to do the thing that I love more than anything, other than my children,'" Hammer told The Hollywood Reporter. "I would have done a f***ing cat food commercial. I just wanted to work again."

Hammer shares daughter Harper, 11, and son Ford, 9, with ex-wife Elizabeth Chambers. The actor described his anxiety before filming began, stating that he remained scared until director Boll called action for the first time. "And then I was like, 'Wait. I do know how to do this.' There's a reason I had the success I had," Hammer told The Hollywood Reporter.

Director Boll defended his casting decision in an exclusive February interview with Us Weekly, emphasizing Hammer's screen presence. "I've worked with some big actors like Ben Kingsley, and Oscar-winning actors like J.K. Simmons, but they don't have that star thing where you dominate the screen, like a Tom Cruise. [Armie] can do this," Boll told Us Weekly. "I felt like after four years, it was time to give him another chance. He's a great actor, he's so talented, and it was so much fun to work with him."

The decision by Musk, 55, to amplify the film's availability through X represents a significant intervention in Hammer's career rehabilitation efforts. By providing free access and encouraging viral distribution through reposts, the social media platform owner effectively bypassed traditional distribution channels and critical gatekeepers who might have limited the film's reach.