", Fraser recalled that when he left the room, he saw a police officer but could not bring himself to report what happened. Brendan Fraser is speaking out for the first time about his experience with sexual harassment in Hollywood. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. The event left Fraser depressed and reclusive, he says, adding thathe was rarely invited back to the Globes after 2003. Is nose swelling like this normal? Berk tells the magazine the HFPA never retaliated against Fraser: His career declined through no fault of ours., Am I still frightened? Golden Globes voters in tumult: Members accuse Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. Brendan Fraser Says Former HFPA President Sexually Assaulted Him and Derailed His Career In an interview with GQ, Brendan Fraser claimed that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Phil Berk is no longer a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association," the HFPA board added in a statement released yesterday (April 20). Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock. The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article, the associated said in an official statement. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The actor immediately left the luncheon and went home to his wife, who he said he told about the interaction. "It made me feel reclusive," the . According to The New York Times, as a tax-exempt non-profit, "payments to members for their work for the organization are legal as long as they are considered reasonable." Brendan Fraser claims ex-Hollywood Foreign Press president groped him. The story he wants to relay took place, he says, in the summer of 2003, in the Beverly Hills Hotel, at a luncheon held by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization that hosts the . In a new interview with GQ, "The Mummy" star alleges that the HFPA's Philip Berk assaulted him at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the summer of 2003. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. 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. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. "I felt ill. However, the first awards show wasn't the glitz and glamor that it would become. Scarlett Johansson has publicly stated that she will be taking a step back from HFPA-associated events, which she says have frequently involved "facing sexist questions and remarks by certain HFPA members that bordered on sexual harassment." The alleged incident left Fraser overcome with panic and fear. Peter Jackson seems to confirm Weinstein blacklisted Mira Sorvino, Ashley Judd. Berk, no longer president of the HFPA but still a member, told GQ Fraser'sversion of events "is a total fabrication.. (Reps for Fraser and the HFPA did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment). And HFPA has stated that their payments are "vetted by a professional nonprofit compensation consultant and outside counsel, where appropriate. The Los Angeles Times reports that the email was sent to everyone in the HFPA, including its "members, its staff and the group's general counsel and chief operating officer." Members ended up returning the watches in response to the criticism regarding the gifts, while USA Films claimed that "the studio got the watches for free and didn't realize how expensive they were.". 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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. Helen Hoehne will be the next President of the HFPA, it was revealed today. I thought I was going to cry, he told the magazine. It made me feel reclusive. His career seemed on hold. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Brendan Fraser, Sexual Harassment. My apology admitted no wrongdoing, the usual If Ive done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended and I apologize., In his 2014 memoir With Signs and Wonders: My Journey from Darkest Africa to the Bright Lights of Hollywood, Berk recounted the incident too saying he pinched Frasiers ass in jest., RELATED VIDEO: Women of Hollywood Attend Golden Globes Together in Support of the Times Up Movement, While other factors contributed to the downward momentum of his career, Fraser tells GQ that his alleged experience with Berk made [him] retreat and feel reclusive., [I] became depressed, he said, recounting how he told himself he deserved what happened to him. I didn't want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative," he says now. As a member of the HFPA since 1989, he previously served as president in 2003-05. If you need help purchasing a product directly from Allure, go to our FAQ. Then he went home and told his wife. This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.. Brendan Fraser (left) accused former Hollywood Foreign Press President Philip Berk of groping him in 2003. He did have his reps ask the HFPA for a written apology, telling GQ that the HFPA agreed they would never allow Berk in a room with Fraser again. In May 2021, NBC announced that it wouldn't be broadcasting the following year's Golden Globe Awards (via USA Today). We are excited for the future of our association and look forward to connecting with our colleagues in the industry both old and new over these next few months.. retailers. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. . I thought I was going to cry, he says. I Didn't Start Masturbating Until I Was 30. Do I feel like I need to say something? Lorenzo Soria has been re-elected president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the 2016-2017 year. (This letter was referred to in a 2005 New York Times story that read in part, "Mr. Berk wrote a letter of apology to the actor Brendan Fraser for having grabbed the actor's buttocks during a ceremony to announce a charitable contribution, though Mr. Berk said in an interview that he did no such thing and wrote the letter only to mollify the actor. Over the years weve continued a positive working relationship with Brendan, which includes announcing Golden Globe nominees, attending the ceremony and participating in press conferences. Soon after NBC decided to cancel the 2022 broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards, actor Tom Cruise joined the boycott. According to. A cause of. I felt like a little kid. 344 Hollywood Foreign Press Associations Cecil B Demille Award Announcement Premium High Res Photos Browse 344 hollywood foreign press associations cecil b demille award announcement stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. The HFPA said in a statement to GQ, "We conducted an internal review and then took it upon ourselves to commission an independent investigation into the matter to ensure impartiality. sexually assaulted him in 2003. . Brendan Fraser claims he was groped in 2003 by Philip Berk, then president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, an experience Fraser says left him depressed and miserable. "Pregnancy Nose" Reveals Are Sweeping TikTok. Brendan Fraser is sharing his own Me Too experience and says a 15-year-old assault may have contributed to the derailment of his career. 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. Its a privilege to lead this organization as we continue on the path of fundamental change and reform, the Hamburg-born writer Hoehne said Wednesday of her election. He says it took courage to talk about the incident and that he's hopeful that change will come from all those coming forward to discuss sexual misconduct. There have also been numerous claims that voters are easily swayed. "Maybe I am over-reacting in terms of what the instance was. In an interview with GQ, he confessed, "His left hand reaches around, grabs my a** cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. "I felt ill," Fraser said. Am I still frightened? The incident took place at a luncheon hosted by the association, and Fraser alleges that when Berk reached out to shake his hand, the man instead grabbed Frasers butt. Between 2002 and 2018, only five Golden Globe Awards had at least one BIPOC acting winner. 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. the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press . Fraser alleged in an interview with GQ magazine that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk intimately groped him. Berkclaims he had written a letter to Fraser about the incident claiming that he had done no wrong. Deadline reports that in response to the cancellation, Cruise sent his three Golden Globe trophies back to the HFPA headquarters. Fraser revealed the alleged abuse in 2018,. Up to 100 PR firms also indicated that they were disappointed with the HFPA's lack of commitment to "transformational change. Berk wrote in his memoir that he did so in jest, but Fraser remembers the incident much differently. IE 11 is not supported. Its investigation concluded that "the evidence supports that it was intended to be taken as a joke" and suggested issuing a joint statement with Fraser. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. The star of the "The Mummy" trilogy and "George of the Jungle" is speaking out again after he told GQ earlier this year that Philip Berk, the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, groped him at a 2003 luncheon in Beverly Hills. "Do I feel like I need to say something? Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Brendan Fraser, who stars in "The Whale," claims former HFPA President Philip Berk sexually assaulted him in 2003. Meher Tatna is president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which created the Golden Globe Awards in 1944. . As Vox puts it, foreign journalists felt like they were being shut out compared to local journalists, which they likely were due to xenophobic discrimination during World War II. Feb. 21, 2021. Absolutely. Why do some of us start later than others? Allure may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! Berk is still a member of the HFPA. I haven't spoken to them in years, but they're my friends. Absolutely. Absolutely," he said. I think it was. I didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative, he added. April 19, 2021 3:30 PM PT. Fraser went home and told his then-wife, Afton Smith,what happened. But at the time, his reps did askthe HFPA for a written apology from Berk, and received one, though Berk says his apology admitted no wrongdoing. Even after speaking about his allegations, Fraser still feels uneasy. Legal Statement. What is unusual is a man publicly opening up about experiencing sexual harassment, which is one of the reasons Fraser's account is garnering so much attention. Withdraw consent by clicking on the link in any issue. I thought I was going to cry. Fraser also surmised his career may have suffered . Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. 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. He told GQ that he removed Berk's hand. There's many reasons, but was this one of them? Perhaps best known for starring as Rick O'Connell in The Mummy trilogy and the title character in 1997's George of the Jungle, actor Brendan Fraser was an omnipresent Hollywood fixture in the 1990s and the first half of the 2000s. For many journalists, the HFPA has always had a "terrible reputation," and the news that it's a self-involved clique wasn't too surprising. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the 87-member organization that presents the Golden Globe Awards, issued a statement Saturday in response to increasing criticism concerning its lack of . His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint, Fraser said. In recounting this incident to GQ, Fraser stated that "his left hand reaches around, grabs my a** cheek, and one of his fingers touches me And he starts moving it around." 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. Berk has repeatedly claimed that all he did was jokingly pinch Fraser's butt. We want to hear from you! 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. Absolutely. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage). Berk told GQ he was still an active voter with the HFPA and faced no disciplinary action. The crisis-plagued Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the body that organises the Golden Globes, has expelled Philip Berk, its former president who sparked widespread outrage by sharing . Fraser's account is disconcertingly reminiscent of reports from women in Hollywood who have spoken out about experiencing professional retaliation after being harassed or assaulted. However, many are saying that these claimed reforms are a superficial band-aid and are nothing more than a few bullet points that vaguely gesture at reform. In 2003 he began researching the business case for climate action for the . The 88-year-old Berk, who served eight terms as HFPA president and was a member of the association for 44 years, sent an email sharing the post with the association's members, staff, general . Madonna Is Pissed That People Focused on Her Face at the Grammys, "I have been degraded by the media since the beginning of my career. HFPA President Lorenzo Soria expressed his enthusiasm and hopes for what the grant bestowed upon CSUN will bring. Brendan Fraser (left) accused former Hollywood Foreign Press President Philip Berk of groping him in 2003. Kevin Spacey faces 7 more sexual offense charges in the U.K. CBS and Les Moonves reach settlement with N.Y. attorney general, Brendan Fraser says former Hollywood Foreign Press Association president sexually harassed him. As the Golden Globes-presenting group hopes to find its way back into a Tinseltown power position, old-guarder Hoehne has her work cut out for her especially with NBC having pulled the plug on the 2022 Globes in May as the organization became mired in more and more controversy over its members/ behavior and its lack of a single Black member. Absolutely, he said. For the HFPA, the Golden Globe Awards were meant to be a way to "boost their profile." In a new interview with GQ, The Mummy starreveals he was groped in 2003byPhilip Berk,a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. I felt like someone had thrown invisible paint on me., Though he told his wife, Afton, about what had happened at the time, Fraser told GQs Zach Baron that he didnt have the courage to speak up earlier, for risk of humiliation, or damage to my career.. Members receive payments for writing for HFPA's website and for working at the annual grants dinner in addition to the payments they receive for serving on the committees. I thought I was going to cry," Fraser said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. These publicity firms had actually threatened to advise their clients to boycott the Golden Globes earlier in March if the HFPA didn't reform, following the Los Angeles Times investigation. Have I wanted to many, many times? the first of which spanned from 2003 . Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! But now that PR firms and entertainers are also standing up and voicing their disapproval with the organization, the tide may be turning for the HFPA. 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. Berk has continued to work with the HFPA, which the organization said was a "positive working relationship." All Rights Reserved. Through his reps, Fraser did request a written apology from the HFPA, and Berk told GQ that he did write Fraser a letter but never admitted any wrongdoing. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association responded in a statement that reads: "The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article. However some, like Alexander Nevsky, joined because they were "just plain curious.". ", In an email to GQ, Berk denied these claims, reportedly writing, "Mr. Fraser's version is a total fabrication." The Time's Up organization, as well as numerous entertainers and PR firms, expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed reforms, stating that "the HFPA's list of recommendations largely contains no specifics [and] no commitments to real accountability or change,"writes The Hollywood Reporter. Meet the New, Revamped Hollywood Foreign Press Association, 105 Members Strong Finally, the HFPA has entered the modern world, even if they did so kicking and screaming. I thought I was going to cry," he says. "The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is thrilled to continue its relationship with CSUN, which now spans nearly two decades and has provided invaluable opportunities for deserving students to hone their craft," Soria said. Actor Brendan Fraser has accused a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group that presents the annual Golden Globe Awards, of groping him at an event in 2003. Absolutely. NEW YORK, NY - DECEMBER 14: Brendan Fraser attends AOL Build to discuss his role in 'The Affair' at AOL HQ on December 14, 2016 in New York City. User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and According to Fraser, the assault happened when Berk reached out to shake Frasers hand on his way out of the hotel. I was blaming myself and I was miserable because I was saying, This is nothing; this guy reached around and he copped a feel,' Fraser recalled. History and future met for a close-up on Sept. 15 in the newly dedicated Hollywood Foreign Press Association wing of California State University, Northridge's Manzanita Hall. Your California Privacy Rights. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the group behind the Golden Globes, has approved a new set of bylaws, in an effort to remedy the diversity and ethical issues that sparked. Absolutely, he says. Then, in April 2021, he was expelled from the organization after sending an article that described Black Lives Matters as a "racist hate movement" to HFPA members. Actress Mira Sorvino, for instance, said recently that after being sexually harassed by disgraced former studio head Harvey Weinstein, she was relegated to "the fringes of the Miramax family"; director Peter Jackson even admitted that he blacklisted both Sorvino and actress Ashley Judd, who also has spoken out about being harassed by Weinstein, after Weinstein gave Jackson "false information" about the two actresses. And he starts moving it around. But the silence was deafening, he said, adding that he was rarely invited back to the Globes after 2003. Have I stopped myself? ", Related: Peter Jackson seems to confirm Weinstein blacklisted Mira Sorvino, Ashley Judd, Fraser added that he was emboldened to come forward by the #MeToo and Time's Up movements, saying: "I know Rose [McGowan], I know Ashley [Judd], I know Mira [Sorvino] I've worked with them. Get the latest hollywood foreign press association news, articles, videos and photos on the New York Post. Still, for all the moves to bring in new members, diversity advisers, potential new leadership and administrators like an actual CEO, CFO, Chief Human Resource Officer and Chief Diversity Officer, the fact is that power player General Counsel/Chief Operating Officer George Goeckner remains firmly in place at the HFPA at least for now. His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. In an interview with GQ, Brendan Fraser alleged that Philip Berk, former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), groped him. What to Know About Michelle Wolf the 2018 WHCA Dinner Host, Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It. These steps involve hiring a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) consultant, mandatory member training for both sexual harassment and DEI, and the creation of new bylaws and membership/reaccreditation process. I thought I was going to cry., After immediately leaving the luncheon, Fraser told his wife of the interaction but otherwise remained silent for fear of embarrassment and career damage. President Lorenzo Soria, who oversaw the organization that puts on the annual Golden Globe Awards, has died. Fraser also shared his belief that he may have been blacklisted by the HFPA after the incident and that his career may have suffered as a result. 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. Fraser also wondered if the HFPA had blacklisted him. It made me feel reclusive." According to The Guardian, Cruise isn't the only entertainer speaking out. Check out 100 years of eye looks: 2023 Cond Nast. The HFPA, meanwhile, declined to comment for GQ's story. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. Fraser said when the group approached him and asked him to sign off on the statement, "What I said to them was, 'Show me the investigator's report, and then I'll know what I'm signing off on.'" In response to the cancellation, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association released a new and improved timeline of the "transformational changes" they plan to implement, noting that they will happen "regardless of the next air date of the Golden Globes.". He previously. 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). The actor said he refused to sign, because he "didn't get the joke." "I didn't want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative," he said. And after being broadcast on the radio for 14 years, on February 26, 1958, the Golden Globe Awards were televised for the first time. In. In the interview, Fraser said that at an HFPA luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Berk reached out his hand to shake Fraser's, then went much further. We ask the experts. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. Berk reached out to shake The Mummy actor's hand. "I'm humbled to be elected by my peers and colleagues here at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and. Among those efforts, transparency seems to be the major buzzword for now, I hear. HFPA also maintained that Berk, a 41-year member of HFPA and eight-term former president, faced no disciplinary action and was going to remain an active member of the HFPA. Why didn't Fraser go public? Forbes also mentions that with "anemic ratings and dwindling ad dollars," it's unclear if the Golden Globes is even worth the $60 million NBC pays to license the show. This lack of representation also affects the films highlighted by the Golden Globes, which has been criticized numerous times for its lack of racial diversity in both nominations and awards. "His left hand reaches around, grabs my a** cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint," said Fraser. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. Held in 1944, the first Golden Globes Awards were, according to Vox, an "informal luncheon" at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Market data provided by Factset. Varietyadds that there's infighting among active HFPA members in terms of "how to reform and how to respond to its critics. Berk was the president of theHollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization behind the Golden Globe Awards. 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. . And he starts moving it around, Fraser told GQ. On his way out, he met Berk, whose organization votes on the Golden Globes. Over the years weve continued a positive working relationship with Brendan, which includes announcing Golden Globe nominees, attending the ceremony and participating in press conferences.