Robert Downey Jr. Has Been Secretly Supporting Armie Hammer, Paid For His Rehab

Well, it looks like Armie Hammer’s gig as a timeshare sales rep might not last long enough for him to find his picture on a little lunch room plaque that reads Timeshare Employee of the Month. Because Armie has left the Cayman Islands and returned to the United States. According to reports, he and his family landed stateside to get away from all the photographers and journalists who flooded the island in an attempt to get the scoop on Armie’s timeshare job. And now Armie is reportedly living in one of Robert Downey Jr.’s house.

Last week it was reported that Armie, who isn’t exactly on too many casting directors’ immediate call lists at the moment, was working a regular timeshare sales job in the Cayman Islands, where he and his family have been living for a while (that would be his estranged wife Elizabeth Chambers, and the two children they share). As mentioned, Armie grew up in the lap of luxury (or the ass cheeks of awfulness, depending on how much you’ve read about the Hammer family). But Armie has left that job and is hiding out in L.A. via Vanity Fair:

An attorney for Hammer told V.F. Wednesday, “I can’t confirm or deny the report because Armie hasn’t addressed it. I just think it’s shitty that, if he is selling timeshares, the media is shaming him for having a ‘normal job.’”

Hammer was so besieged by press in the Caymans that, on Friday, he flew with Chambers and their two young children to Los Angeles to escape the scrutiny. While in town, Hammer has been staying at a home owned by Downey and has attended an A.A. meeting in Malibu, according to the source.

RDJ has apparently been Armie’s guardian angel. Vanity Fair adds that Armie’s Captain Save-A-Cannibal has been footing the bill for his recovery. Like remember last June when Armie reportedly checked into a Florida treatment center for six months to deal with issues relating to booze, drugs, and sex issues? RDJ paid for that.

When Armie Hammer found himself at the center of a dark crisis last year involving shocking allegations of emotional abuse, manipulation, and violence, it was Robert Downey Jr. who stepped in to steer the actor toward rehab, a source close to Hammer tells Vanity Fair. Downey paid for the actor to spend nearly six months in the Florida rehabilitation facility the Guest House, the source confirms.

The treatment center, situated on a secluded 52-acre estate in Silver Springs, “cater[s] in particular to clients who have high-stress or high-visibility lifestyles such as business executives, politicians and entertainment professionals,” according to the facility’s website.

And Robert didn’t forget about Armie once he left rehab, either:

In addition to providing Hammer a temporary place to stay, Downey has been providing Hammer financial assistance until he gets back on his feet, according to the same person. (Representatives for Downey have not yet responded to Vanity Fair’s request for comment.)

Vanity Fair points out that Robert Downey Jr. is likely paying it forward, due to his own recovery from past issues. Before RDJ was Iron Man, he was a messy addict who was getting pulled over by the LAPD in 1996, and later in 2001, and breaking out of several rehab centers (the last one stuck). But as Vanity Fair notes, one actor stood up for Robert Downey Jr. at his lowest point, and that person was Mel Gibson, who championed RDJ’s recovery throughout his arrests and rehab stints (where’s that Onion headline about the worst person you know making a great point when you need it). So obviously, Robert Downey Jr. sees Armie as a person who needs some help at this time. The only thing is, Armie’s issues aren’t just booze and drugs; Armie has also been accused of sexual assault multiple times. Luckily RDJ is rich enough he can probably rocket away in a real-life Iron Man suit if anyone asks him about that.

Pic: INSTARimages