“Are You the One?” cast member Gianna Hammer says that MTV covered up her sexual assault that took place on set.
The 25-year-old appeared on season five of the dating series. She says she was “drugged” by production staff and “sexually assaulted” by a fellow cast member in 2016 during filming in the Dominican Republic.
Hammer came forward with the accusations in several of TikTok videos. She explained that she was not looking to “go after or expose” the co-star she claims assaulted her. Instead, she wanted to share her experience and disdain with how the network handled the assault.
On Sunday, Hammer went into more detail in an interview with The Daily Beast. The former contestant says that producers for Lighthearted Entertainment convinced her to let her co-star stay. While he was not kicked off the show, producers said that he was required to sleep on the couch, and both parties would be banned from drinking for the remainder of filming.
Hammer says that once season five wrapped, no one from MTV production contacted her regarding the assault.
“I guess I really thought about it and was like, ‘Wow, that was really f–ked up,'” Hammer said. “They should have never left me in an unsafe position. I’m definitely a changed person after it all.”
A spokesperson for MTV spoke with The Daily Beast, confirming that they have halted production to investigate Hammer’s claims. MTV has also pulled the current season of “Are You the One?” from streaming platforms.
Despite the probe, Hammer says she is not holding her breath that anything will be done. She is hopeful that her story will encourage other women to come forward.
“At this point, I’m not holding out for anything. I just hope my story encourages others who may have been in a similar position to feel strong and empowered.”
The cast member who allegedly assaulted Hammer has not been identified publicly.
