In a surprising turn of events, Jon Hamm, widely known for his role in the hit TV show Mad Men, has been linked to a violent hazing incident that took place during his college days at the University of Texas in 1990.
According to court and school records, the Emmy-nominated actor was involved in a brutal incident that led to criminal charges.
Previously undisclosed, the lawsuit filed by a member of a fraternal social organization alleges that Hamm participated in the hazing, which involved severe beatings, dragging with a hammer, and setting the victim’s pants on fire.
The plaintiff stated that Hamm was actively involved in the hazing “till the very end.”
Criminal records reveal that Hamm, who is now 44 years old, was charged with hazing and received probation.
An additional charge of assault was dismissed.
As a consequence of the incident, the Sigma Nu fraternity chapter, an all-male student group, was permanently disbanded.
Despite requests for comment by the Associated Press, representatives for Hamm and Mad Men creator Matthew Weiner have not responded publicly.
At the time of the incident, Hamm was not a public figure, which explains why his connection to the case remained unknown until recently.
Star magazine was the first to report on this matter.
The timing of this revelation is significant as it coincides with the final season of the critically acclaimed television series Mad Men.
According to court documents, the victim, Mark Allen Sanders, stated that Hamm became furious when he failed to recite the information he was supposed to memorize about Hamm and other fraternity members.
This led to Hamm setting Sanders’ jeans on fire, pushing his face into the dirt, and striking him with a paddle.
Sanders recounted, “He rears back and hits me left-handed, and he hit me right over my right kidney, I mean square over it.
Good solid hit, and that stood me right up.”
Sanders required medical attention and ultimately withdrew from the university.
The lawsuit was dismissed in 1993, and attempts to contact Sanders have been unsuccessful.
Four other members of the fraternity faced charges and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor hazing charges.
The Sigma Nu chapter was permanently closed and never reopened on campus.
University records indicate that Hamm enrolled at the University of Texas in the fall of 1989 and left after the semester in which the hazing incident occurred.
In a 2008 interview with W Magazine, Hamm revealed that he left school during his second year after his father’s passing, opting to return to his home state of Missouri.
Earlier this year, Hamm
