Why Jon Hamm’s Arrest Made Headlines: ‘Mad Men’ Star’s Role in Brutal Fraternity Hazing Scandal
Jon Hamm, famous for his role as Don Draper in the hit TV series ‘Mad Men,’ tied the knot with Anna Osceola on June 24.
However, before Hamm became a Hollywood star and won a Golden Globe Award, he faced legal trouble for his involvement in a vicious hazing incident.
In 1990, Mark Allen Sanders, an honors student at the University of Texas, accused Hamm of attacking him as part of a sadistic hazing ritual at the Sigma Nu fraternity.
Sanders claimed that Hamm and other fraternity brothers tortured and humiliated him during his time as a pledge.
The incident led to Sanders leaving the university and seeking counseling, while a police investigation resulted in the closure of the fraternity chapter.
Prior to the release of the ‘Mad Men’ finale in 2015, Star Magazine published a story exposing Hamm’s role in the brutal hazing incident.
A transcript from a 1991 interview revealed Sanders describing the repeated beatings and assaults he endured at the hands of the Sigma Nu members.
He detailed how they confined pledges in tiny compartments known as “the pit,” “the hole,” and “the grave.”
Hamm was identified as one of the seven brothers involved in tormenting the pledges.
Sanders recounted a particularly harrowing experience on November 10, 1990, when Hamm allegedly warned him of a long night ahead.
Hamm subjected Sanders to two hours of physical attacks, including spanking with a paddle and lifting him up by his underwear.
Sanders also claimed that Hamm set fire to his pants and refused to let him put out the flames, instead ordering him to blow them out.
Additionally, Hamm allegedly used a claw hammer to pull Sanders around the room by his testicles.
The hazing incident left Sanders with severe injuries, including nerve damage, kidney spasms, and a spinal fracture.
His mother reported the incident to the authorities, leading to a police investigation that ultimately resulted in the closure of the Sigma Nu chapter.
Hamm left the university without completing his degree and returned to his hometown in Missouri.
Today, Sanders is a successful doctor and attorney specializing in medical malpractice and personal injury cases.
He has chosen not to speak publicly about the hazing incident in recent years, although court documents from over two decades ago provide detailed accounts of the ordeal.
Hamm was arrested in 1993 and faced charges as a ringleader in the hazing incident.
However, court records indicate that he received deferred adjudication in 1995, allowing him to avoid a criminal conviction by serving probation.
Three other Sigma Nu members pleaded no contest to hazing charges and were sentenced to 15 to 30 days in jail or alternative community service.
Another member was fined $500 for a lesser hazing violation.
Although Hamm’s arrest made headlines, it is important to note that the hazing incident was an isolated incident in his life.
Since then, Hamm has taken steps to improve himself as a person, according to a close friend.
Overall, Jon Hamm’s arrest and involvement in a brutal fraternity hazing scandal have brought attention to the issue of hazing and its consequences.
The incident serves as a reminder of the need to address and prevent such harmful practices within educational institutions and organizations.
