Jon Hamm, known for his role in the hit TV show Mad Men, has recently been linked to a violent college hazing incident that occurred in 1990 at the University of Texas.
According to court and school records obtained on Thursday, Hamm’s involvement in the incident led to criminal charges being filed and the permanent disbandment of the fraternity chapter.
This revelation came to light when a lawsuit filed by a Sigma Nu pledge surfaced, claiming that he was subjected to severe beatings, dragged with a hammer, and even had his pants set on fire.
The pledge stated that Hamm participated in these acts “till the very end.”
Court records reveal that Hamm, who was 44 at the time, was charged with hazing and received deferred adjudication, meaning he had to successfully complete probation but was never officially convicted.
A separate charge of assault was dismissed.
Neither Hamm nor the creator of Mad Men, Matthew Weiner, have commented on the matter.
Although the records were not sealed, Hamm’s involvement in the case remained unknown until it was reported by Star magazine earlier this week.
This revelation comes as Mad Men enters its final season on AMC, garnering significant attention.
According to the lawsuit, Hamm became furious when the pledge failed to recite information about him and other fraternity members.
The list of things the pledge was supposed to memorize included nicknames for Hamm such as “Young Bobby,” “MC Hammer,” and “UT Football Punching Bag.”
In response, Hamm allegedly set the pledge’s jeans on fire, shoved his face in dirt, and struck him with a paddle.
Mark Allen Sanders, the pledge in question, claimed that he required medical attention and ultimately withdrew from the university.
The lawsuit was dismissed in 1993, and attempts to reach Sanders for comment were unsuccessful.
Four other fraternity members faced charges and pleaded no contest to misdemeanor hazing charges.
As a result, the Sigma Nu chapter was permanently shut down and never reopened on campus.
University records indicate that Hamm arrived at the University of Texas in the fall of 1989 but left after the same semester in which the hazing incident occurred.
In a 2008 interview with W Magazine, Hamm explained that he left school during his sophomore year following his father’s death and returned to his home state of Missouri.
Earlier this year, Hamm completed a stint in rehab for alcohol addiction, as confirmed by his representatives.
