Sam Altman Abuse Allegations: Sister Shares Deposition Clip Describing Knitting Experience as 'Soothing'

Annie Altman, the sister of OpenAI chief executive Sam Altman, has released about the first 40 minutes of her deposition in her sexual abuse lawsuit against him, describing knitting during the session as 'soothing.'

The roughly 41-minute video was published on 3 October 2026 and has drawn renewed attention to the closely watched case in St. Louis.

Altman's public post linked to a YouTube video titled 'First Hour of My Deposition,' it was not independently verified that the footage was originally posted on Instagram.

The footage shows Annie knitting with dark pink yarn while wearing a blue fleece she said belonged to her late father. Asked why she was knitting and whether it helped her, she replied that she found it 'soothing.'

Annie filed the lawsuit against her brother in January 2025. She alleged that Sam sexually abused her between 1997 and 2006, beginning when she was three years old and he was 12.

What Annie Altman Said

Annie said she gave her deposition on 18 August. Under a protective order, she said she was permitted to release it in full 10 days later but was currently allowed to share only the first 40 minutes.

She captioned the post, 'First Hour of My Deposition - Ann Altman [vs] Sam Altman.'

In the clip, Sam's attorney asked whether she believed the allegations set out in her complaint accurately reflected her experience. Annie replied, 'Yes, as much as a legal document of words can reflect any experience, traumatic or otherwise.'

The deposition records Annie's testimony, it does not establish that the allegations are true. Sam Altman denies them and is pursuing a defamation counterclaim.

The Allegations in Court Records

According to the lawsuit, Annie alleged that Sam abused her 'several' times per week between 1997 and 2006, beginning when she was three years old.

The complaint alleged that the abuse continued until Annie was still a minor and Sam was an adult. It accused him of grooming and manipulating her into believing the acts were her idea.

The complaint alleged that Annie did not consent and alleged that, because of her age, she lacked the legal capacity to consent.

The filing alleged that she suffered bodily injuries, post-traumatic stress disorder, severe emotional distress and depression, and incurred medical and mental-health treatment costs.

These are allegations made in civil litigation, not findings by a court. Sam Altman has denied them.

Sam Altman's Response

In January 2025, Sam, his mother and his brothers issued a statement on X rejecting the allegations. They said they loved Annie and were concerned about her wellbeing.

The family said it had tried to support her in various ways over the years, including providing monthly financial support, paying bills, covering rent, helping her find work and attempting to secure medical help. They also said they had offered to buy her a house through a trust.

'Via our late father's estate, Annie receives monthly financial support, which we expect to continue for the rest of her life,' the statement said.

The family described her allegations as 'deeply hurtful' and 'entirely untrue.' It also said she had continued to demand more money from them. Those statements represent the family's position and have not been established as facts by a court.

Where the Case Stands

In March 2026, a judge dismissed Annie's sexual assault and sexual battery claims as time-barred, ruling that those claims had expired in 2008. The judge, however, allowed her to pursue the case under Missouri's Childhood Sexual Abuse statute. Annie filed an amended complaint in St. Louis federal court in April 2026.

Sam filed a defamation counterclaim against his sister, seeking $1 in damages. He has said he does not want to harm her financially but wants a court ruling that her statements are false.

His counterclaim concerns social-media posts Annie made between 2021 and 2024, including posts on X and TikTok. In some posts, she referred to abuse by 'older siblings' and, in one instance, an 'almost tech billionaire,' without naming Sam.

In April, Annie's then-law firms moved to withdraw from the case, citing what they called an 'unfortunate general breakdown in the attorney-client relationship,' as well as professional and confidential considerations. Court records later showed Annie proceeding with new counsel.

Annie continues to stand by her allegations, while Sam denies them. The amended case remains pending, and the allegations have not been adjudicated on their merits.