As a member of the HFPA since 1989, he previously served as president in 2003-05. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Oscars 2023: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Predictions The incident happened in public at a summer luncheon held by the HFPA (which hosts the Golden Globes annually). In 2020, Norwegian entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa sued the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after she was denied membership into the group. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. The HFPA investigated the accusation, but Fraser said the organization declined to share the full results of their investigation with him. The group even adopted the motto, "Unity without discrimination of religion or race," according to Hollywood Foreign Press Association: A History. I thought I was going to cry, he told the magazine. The material on this site may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, cached or otherwise used, except with the prior written permission of Cond Nast. "His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. Johansson's"Avengers" co-star Mark Ruffalo has also voiced criticism of the HFPA, claiming that "honestly, as a recent winner of a Golden Globe, I cannot feel proud or happy about being a recipient of this award," per the BBC. He also wrote about the incident in his memoir, according to People, but Berk said he pinched Fraser in jest.. sexually assaulted him in 2003. . Fraser also surmised his career may have suffered . Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Brendan Fraser (left) accused former Hollywood Foreign Press President Philip Berk of groping him in 2003. Berk wrote in his memoir that he did so in jest, but Fraser remembers the incident much differently. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Fraser said that at the time, he panicked: "I felt ill. Brendan Fraser says the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which runs the Golden Globes, pressured him to downplay his allegation that its former president, Philip Berk, groped him in 2003. Fraser described in aninterview with GQthe moment that "overcame him with panic and fear.". Fraser went home and told his then-wife, Afton Smith,what happened. The actor believes one of the reasons his career hit a standstill was because of an alleged incident with Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hosts the Golden Globes. After the 2003 luncheon, Frasers representatives asked the HFPA for an apology, and Berk confirmed to GQ that he did write one. And he starts moving it around, Fraser claimed. It made me feel reclusive. His career seemed on hold. "I felt ill. The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article, the association said in a statement, according to People. The organization drew widespread criticism for this year's slate of . On May 10, 2021, it seemed like the industry heads were taking note when NBC announced that they wouldn't be broadcasting the 2022 Golden Globe Awards. Then he went home and told his wife. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. In 2014, former HFPA president Philip Berk revealed in his memoir that Nicole Kidman received a nomination for "Billy Bathgate" because she did a HFPA interview, while her co-star, Dustin Hoffman, did not and received no nomination as a result. This came after the 2021 Golden Globe Awards, which notably snubbed Black-led projects such as "Judas and the Black Messiah," "Ma Rainey's Black Bottom," and "One Night in Miami." The event left Fraser depressed and reclusive, he says, adding thathe was rarely invited back to the Globes after 2003. Brendan Fraser, who stars in "The Whale," claims former HFPA President Philip Berk sexually assaulted him in 2003. And as soon as the HFPA had done the bare minimum, they were back in NBC's good graces. I became depressed. Hoehne was one of the trio of HFPA leaders who took the stage at the less-than-stellar hybrid Globes on February 28 to address the growing discontent with a pledge of basically trust us. Which few did, to put it mildly. The actor, 49, who can be seen next month in FX's Getty family drama Trust,says the experience messed with his sense of who I was and what I was doing. Work, he says, withered on the vine for me. Need a break from the news? Lorenzo Soria has been re-elected president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the 2016-2017 year. With less than 100 members, HFPA accepts less than five new members every year, and "any member can veto a newcomer's application in voting done by secret ballot," reports The Washington Post. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. Please enter valid email address to continue. In February 2021, the Los Angeles Times revealed that among the almost 90 members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, there are no Black members, despite the group's own motto being "Unity without discrimination of religion or race." Berk tells the magazine that Frasers version is total fabrication. In Berks memoir, he recounts the incident, in which he placed his hand on Frasers butt during a hug, as a jest. In a new GQ profile titled What Ever Happened To Brendan Fraser?,the actor remembers being groped byPhilip Berk in the summer of 2003. Berk recounted the incident in his memoir "With Signs and Wonders," but said he pinched Fraser's behind as a joke. Absolutely, he tells GQ. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) addressed their controversial diversity issue, namely the fact that the organization currently has no Black members, during Sunday night's broadcast. However, he said the note did not admit anything. "His left-hand reaches around grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around, Fraser told GQ. Fraser, through his representatives, asked the HFPA for an apology, which Berk says he wrote, but added: "My apology admitted no wrongdoing, the usual 'If I've done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended and I apologize. "And he starts moving it around." In response, entertainers have also stated that they will "refrain from any HFPA sanctioned events." Shonda Rhimes, producer of the show "Bridgerton," even noted that HFPA rejected their press conference until the show became a "surprise hit. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. You will be redirected back to your article in, Ariana DeBose Gets The Last Laugh On Her BAFTAs Rap, Tom Sizemore Dies: 'Saving Private Ryan' & 'Black Hawk Down' Star Was 61; Reactions + Career In Photos, Bill Maher Predicts Joe Biden Beats Donald Trump In 2024 Match Up; HBO Host Center Stage As CNN Launches New 9 PM Strategy, Marilyn Manson Rape Accuser Pressured To Recant Claims, Evan Rachel Wood Asserts; Judge Rejects Singers Attempt To Add New Declaration To Case Against Westworld Actress, WGA Plans Showrunner Meetings This Week In Advance Of AMPTP Negotiations, Rachael Ray Daytime Talk Show To End After 17 Seasons, Eyes $51M+ Opening In U.S., A Record For Rocky Spinoff Franchise & Amazon, SAG-AFTRA And Casting Directors Weigh In On Self-Tape Controversy, Oscar Winner Guillermo Del Toro On The Films That Lit His Fuse. Absolutely., Berk responded to Frasers story by telling GQ it is a total fabrication. He admitted to writing a letter to Fraser about the incident but said his apology admitted no wrongdoing.. And the pattern of men in power hurting the careers of those they have harassed or assaulted is in no way unique to the entertainment industry. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. / CBS News. He told GQ that he removed Berk's hand. Brendan Fraser attends AOL Build to discuss his role in 'The Affair' at AOL HQ on Dec. 14, 2016 in New York City. Fraser's story is a reminder that while sexual misconduct is disproportionately experienced by women, it can happen to anyone, regardless of gender or sexuality. In the end, as one insider notes, "I don't think anyone will touch this with a 10-foot pole until they get their act together." And he starts moving it around. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Am I still frightened? Anne Thompson On his way out, he met Berk, whose organization votes on the Golden Globes. Write to Abigail Abrams at abigail.abrams@time.com. But when they first organized, they still weren't taken too seriously, and mostly all they did was "meet at various members' homes to share information." But his career has noticeably waned over the past decade, leading journalists and commenters to ask multiple variations of the same question: What happened to Brendan Fraser? Flaa's lawsuit alleged that the HFPA operated like a cartel and instituted a "culture of corruption," writes the Los Angeles Times, and actively barred qualified candidates such as herself. "I felt ill. Absolutely," Fraser said in the interview. Why do some of us start later than others? Meher Tatna is president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which created the Golden Globe Awards in 1944. . Brendan Fraser claims ex-Hollywood Foreign Press president groped him. Fighting to stay alive, the beleaguered Hollywood Foreign Press Association has elected a nearly 20-year veteran to lead the group into what may or may not be better days. I felt ill. He was a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association since 1989 and served in the administration for 25 years he formerly held the position of president from 2003-2005 and 2015-2017. As the Rape, Abuse & Incest National Network points out, men who have survived harassment or abuse may experience intense shame that they were not "strong enough" to fight off an attack; their sexuality may also be questioned, leading many men to stay silent. I dont know if this curried disfavor with the group, with the HFPA. He also said he did not care why Berk touched him. Despite his inappropriate behavior, Philip Berk stayed on as a part of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. In 1943, actress Argentina Brunetti and her husband Miro Brunetti, a foreign correspondent, co-founded the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association, which was renamed the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 1954 (via Golden Globes). By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Absolutely. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. CBS reports that in 2018, Fraser even asked to see the investigation's full report so he'd "know what I'm signing off on," but the HFPA has repeatedly refused to share its report. I felt like a little kid. He rushed home and told his wife about the encounter, but was afraid to go public with the incident. Then, he said, the HFPA asked him to sign a joint statement saying the investigation found that Berk touched Fraser inappropriately but "the evidence supports that it was intended to be taken as a joke and not as a sexual advance.". Fraser said the incident led to him becoming depressed and messed with his sense of who I was and what I was doing. He also said it affected the trajectory of his career. In the midst of a crowded room, Fraser says, Berk reached out to shake the actor'shand, but instead grabbed his butt. We ask the experts. Brendan Fraser is the latest actor to come forward with his story of sexual assault in the wake of the #MeToo and Times Up movements.