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." Although the judge ended up siding with HFPA in November 2020, the lawsuit brought to light a number of the organization's "ethical conflicts, with members accepting 'thousands of dollars in emoluments' from the very same studios, networks and celebrities they conferred trophies upon.". I thought I was going to cry," Fraser said. The HFPA said that it is investigating further details surrounding the incident. 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Related Compared to their previous plan, this timeline is significantly more specific, going through the steps that will be taken between May and August 2021. Absolutely. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our hollywood foreign press association Brendan Fraser nabs Golden Globe nomination despite vowing not to attend December 12, 2022 | 11:14am The 53-year-old has vowed to boycott the ceremony. And he starts moving it around. Absolutely. But the question now is whether or not this is the sound of HFPA's death rattle. But the silence was deafening. Fraser tells GQ he was rarely invited back to the Globes after 2003. Have I stopped myself? Absolutely. "By the end of 2020, the association was collectively paying nearly $100,000 a month to members serving on more than a dozen different committees." 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? NEW YORK (AP) The Hollywood Foreign Press Association on Thursday announced reforms to its bylaws and an overhaul of its membership process in a bid to diversify its ranks and potentially restore the heavily criticized Golden Globes. 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. Actor Brendan Fraser accused the former president of theHollywood Foreign Press Association of sexually assaulting him in 2003, the latest in a string of people to speak out in the #MeToo and Times Up movements. Varietyadds that there's infighting among active HFPA members in terms of "how to reform and how to respond to its critics. Need a break from the news? or redistributed. I didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative, he told GQ. An email sent Sunday by a former Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. After the 2003 luncheon, Frasers representatives asked the HFPA for an apology, and Berk confirmed to GQ that he did write one. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. The group even adopted the motto, "Unity without discrimination of religion or race," according to Hollywood Foreign Press Association: A History. "His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint," Fraser told GQ. But the silence was deafening, he said, adding that he was rarely invited back to the Globes after 2003. Philip Berk, 88, had been a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for 44 years and its president for eight years. I felt ill. His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint, Fraser said. Fraser said that he spoke with an independent investigator in April, which the HFPA confirmed. Fraser then said he removed Berks hand and immediately left the event. 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." I dont know if this curried disfavor with the group, with the HFPA. A new profile of Fraser by GQ asks the same question, and adds more context to the answer: In an interview with the magazine, Fraser spoke publicly for the first time about his experience of sexual assault, alleging that he was groped by former Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) president Philip Berk in the summer of 2003. In a recent statement with GQ, Berk called Fraser's story "a total fabrication." I felt like a little kid. Eventually, he wasable to remove Berk's hand. Do I feel like I need to say something? His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Actor Brendan Fraser accused the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association of sexually assaulting him in 2003, the latest in a string of people to speak out in the #MeToo. sexually assaulted him in 2003. . (Reuters) Brendan Fraser claims he was groped in 2003 by Philip Berk, then. The HFPA, meanwhile, declined to comment for GQ's story. Allure may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with 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 ill. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article, the associated said in an official statement. Member Judy Soloman claims that this is "because nobody applied," but this is a lie, according to The Wrap, which alleges that a Black journalist's application was rejected in 2013. Fraser first revealed his #MeToo story in the February issue of GQ : In 2003, at a HFPA luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Fraser said Berk reached out to shake his hand but then proceeded to . In a new GQ profile titled What Ever Happened To Brendan Fraser?,the actor remembers being groped byPhilip Berk in the summer of 2003. You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! ", "Am I still frightened? However, in an official statement Friday the HFPA stated that "the report included alleged information that the association had previously been unaware of" and that it "stands firmly against sexual harassmentand type of behavior described in this article.". I felt like a little kid. "If I've done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended," he said in the statement. 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. Berk, who is still a member of the HFPA, also did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment but has denied the assault ever happened to The New York Times. In response, both MRC and NBC, both of which are involved in the production and broadcasting of the Golden Globe Awards, demanded Berk's expulsion from the HFPA, and two days after sending the email Berk was removed from the HFPA after 44 years of membership. "Do I feel like I need to say something? 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. Subscribe to Deadline Breaking News Alerts and keep your inbox happy. In February, Fraser told GQ that in 2003, as he was leaving a luncheon held by the HFPA at the Beverly Hills Hotel, Berk stopped him and shook his hand. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. Brendan Fraser is speaking out for the first time about his experience with sexual harassment in Hollywood. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The actor said he told his then-wife, Afton Smith, about the incident, but did not speak publicly about it until this week. Then he went home and told his wife. UPDATED with HFPA statement, 1, 52 PM: The Hollywood Foreign Press Associated has issued an official statement about to today's GQ story in which Brendan Fraser said the group considered his. I felt ill. Brendan Fraser is sharing his own Me Too experienceand says a 15-year-oldassault may have contributed to the derailment of his career. president criticizing Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors and likening BLM to a hate group . Scott. Have I wanted to many, many times? 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. 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." He told GQ that he removed Berk's hand. I felt like a little kid. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Brendan Fraser Says Former Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Assaulted Him. / CBS News. Fraser alleged in an interview with GQ magazine that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk intimately groped him. 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. "It made me feel reclusive," the . I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I felt like a little kid. The New York Times notes that the HFPA's history of insensitive behavior coupled with their seemingly shady financial dealings may make it difficult for the Golden Globes to make a comeback, especially if another awards show takes their place. I was blaming myself and I was miserablebecause I was saying, This is nothing; this guy reached around and he copped a feel. That summer wore onand I cant remember what I went on to work on next.. In 2020, Norwegian entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa sued the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after she was denied membership into the group. 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. 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.". The actor says he believes he was blacklisted in Hollywood partly due to the aftermath of the alleged incident. Lorenzo Soria has been re-elected president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the 2016-2017 year. "I'm humbled to be elected by my peers and colleagues here at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and. All rights reserved. Fraser said that the alleged assault left him feeling "ill," "like a little kid," and "like someone had thrown invisible paint on me." In the midst of a crowded room, Fraser says, Berk reached out to shake the actor'shand, but instead grabbed his butt. All Rights Reserved. In addition to recognizing 2021's best in film and . We want to hear from you! "), Letter aside, Fraser said, the experience "made me retreat. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. 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." According to the BBC, Berk "forwarded it as a point of information," though after seeing the consequences of his actions Berk later said that he "regretted sending the email.". 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. 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. '", Berk, who took a six-month leave of absence from the HFPA in April 2014 following backlash from his memoir but is still a member, denied the claim in an e-mail to GQ, saying: "Mr. Fraser's version is a total fabrication.". Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Although it's still up in the air whether or not this might be the final nail in the Golden Globes' coffin, some say that the Golden Globes simply aren't worth saving. However, the network added that "assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023.". Peter Jackson seems to confirm Weinstein blacklisted Mira Sorvino, Ashley Judd. I just know what my truth is.". I think it was. I dont know if this curried disfavor with the group, with the HFPA. I thought I was going to cry.. I didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative, he added. In 2003 he began researching the business case for climate action for the . It will be his second straight year as head of the organization. And he starts moving it around, Fraser told GQ. The organization drew widespread criticism for this year's slate of . Have I stopped myself? Fraser told GQ that he was overcome by panic and fear in the moment. ", Fraser recalled that when he left the room, he saw a police officer but could not bring himself to report what happened. "I felt ill," Fraser said. But there also continues to be genuine bafflement about how things escalated to this point. 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 . Oscars 2023: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Predictions 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. It's unclear whether or not any other stars will follow suit and physically return their own Golden Globes. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. Why do some of us start later than others? However, the first awards show wasn't the glitz and glamor that it would become. Absolutely. Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. All Rights Reserved. Legal Statement. Previously on the HFPAs Board of Directors from 2012-19, frequent German TV contributor Hoehne is one of the current board members. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Brendan Fraser, Sexual Harassment. Why didn't Fraser go public? In a new interview with GQ published on Thursday, the Mummy star, 49, claims that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the non-profit organization that votes for the Golden Globe awards) president Philip Berk sexually assaulted him in the summer of 2003, while at a luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel an alleged incident Berk disputes. "And he starts moving it around." September 8, 2021 4:57pm Courtesy HFPA 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. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. 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. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage). I became depressed. Check out 100 years of eye looks: 2023 Cond Nast. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Even after speaking about his allegations, Fraser still feels uneasy. My apology admitted no wrongdoing, the usual If Ive done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended and I apologize, he told the magazine. ", It also doesn't help that HFPA member Margaret Gardiner "confused Daniel Kaluuya for another Black actor, Leslie Odom Jr., just minutes after Kaluuya's Oscar win.". 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. Deadline reports that in response to the cancellation, Cruise sent his three Golden Globe trophies back to the HFPA headquarters. Philip Berk, a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the past 44 years and an eight-term past president of the group behind the Golden Globe Awards, has been expelled from . I felt like a little kid. His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. 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. Brendan Fraser (left) accused former Hollywood Foreign Press President Philip Berk of groping him in 2003. 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. . ", Andrea is an entertainment producer at CBSNews.com, First published on June 7, 2018 / 2:27 PM. I was blaming myself and I was miserablebecause I was saying, This is nothing; this guy reached around and he copped a feel. That summer wore onand I cant remember what I went on to work on next., Fraser says the experience made me retreat. In my mind, at least, something had been taken away from me., The HFPA responded late Thursday, saying in a statement that the group "stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article. Fraser told GQ that Berk groped him at a luncheon in 2003. 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. Brendan Fraser (left) accused former Hollywood Foreign Press President Philip Berk of groping him in 2003. I thought I was going to cry. 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. People reports in his 2014memoirWith Signs and Wonders: My Journey from Darkest Africa to the Bright Lights of Hollywood,Berk recalled pinching Fraser's buttin jest.. Active members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association vote for the Golden Globe Awards, which means that "the Globes are overseen by an extremely small number of people," considering that in comparison, the Academy Awards are voted on by over 9,000 people. Absolutely," he said. Phil Berk is no longer a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association," the HFPA board added in a statement released yesterday (April 20). IE 11 is not supported. Berk told GQ he was still an active voter with the HFPA and faced no disciplinary action. With some even speculating that the IRS has reason to investigate, it's not unlikely that HFPA members may have to do more than attend a few seminars on diversity and sexual harassment. 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Miller Denies Allegation He Sexually Assaulted and Punched Woman While in College. However, he said the note did not admit anything. 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 . We ask the experts. I thought I was going to cry. Then, Fraser said, Berk groped him. I didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative. 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 2003 Iraq War resulted in some 200,000 to 250,000 civilian deaths, including over 16,000 directly killed by the U.S. military, and left more than a million homeless.The United States has created 37 million refugees around the world. All rights reserved, UN Report: How Florida is Fueling Haiti's Arms Trafficking Crisis, Philippine Provincial Governor Shot Dead by Gunmen While Meeting Villagers, Pa. Woman Went Missing in 1992 and Declared Dead. (Berk denies that the HFPA retaliated against Fraser, telling GQ, His career declined through no fault of ours). 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. Do I feel like I need to say something? During a recent appearance on Howard Stern's SiriusXM talk show, Brendan Fraser continued to diss the Golden Globes. (Reuters). Berk, who has admitted to pinching Fraser's behind, denied that the incident went beyond that, saying, "Mr. Fraser's version is a total fabrication.". Market data provided by Factset. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Brendan Fraser Says Lost Superman Role Would've Been 'Faustian Bargain' Anyway: 'I'm Not a One-Trick Pony' In the 21st century, according to the Golden Globes, "HFPA members attend more than 300 interviews and countless movie and television screenings throughout each year." 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. The HFPA investigated the accusation, but Fraser said the organization declined to share the full results of their investigation with him. President Lorenzo Soria, who oversaw the organization that puts on the annual Golden Globe Awards, has died. Absolutely. I felt like a little kid. "I felt ill. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA Enterprise and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. What to Know About Michelle Wolf the 2018 WHCA Dinner Host, Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It. 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 . In March 2021, the HFPA responded to the criticism by pledging to "increase membership to a minimum of 100 members this year, with a requirement that at least 13 percent of the membership be Black journalists," writes The Wrap. ", In an email to GQ, Berk denied these claims, reportedly writing, "Mr. Fraser's version is a total fabrication." 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.. Dave Quinn is an Editor for PEOPLE, working across a number of verticals including the Entertainment, Lifestyle and News teams. With a group of 21 other journalists, their hope was to pool their knowledge and "formalize their relationship with the studios" in the hopes of making it easier to work on film journalism. 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.
