I felt like a little kid. sexually assaulted him in 2003. . Fraser then said he removed Berks hand and immediately left the event. "His left hand reaches around, grabs my a** cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint," said Fraser. Copyright 2023 NBCUniversal Media, LLC. It will be his second straight year as head of the organization. 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. Get our latest storiesin the feed of your favorite networks. In 2020, Norwegian entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa sued the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after she was denied membership into the group. The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article, the associated said in an official statement. 01:57. Brendan Fraser (left) accused former Hollywood Foreign Press President Philip Berk of groping him in 2003. He says he didn't have the courage to speak out about it earlier because of the "risk of humiliation, or damage to my career.. And after being broadcast on the radio for 14 years, on February 26, 1958, the Golden Globe Awards were televised for the first time. the first of which spanned from 2003 . And HFPA has stated that their payments are "vetted by a professional nonprofit compensation consultant and outside counsel, where appropriate. Market data provided by Factset. "), Letter aside, Fraser said, the experience "made me retreat. Fraser said that at the time, he panicked: "I felt ill. But there also continues to be genuine bafflement about how things escalated to this point. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) on Sunday announced the winners of the 79th Annual Golden Globe Awards, from the Beverly Hilton. The HFPA's board members are also paid, making "between $63,433 and $135,957 in the tax year ending June 30, 2019. 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. Absolutely. Phil Berk is no longer a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association," the HFPA board added in a statement released yesterday (April 20). Feb. 21, 2021. He previously. 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. Have I stopped myself? In order to be considered, journalists are required to pay a $500 membership fee in addition to being based in Southern California while working for a foreign publication, publishing at least four articles a year. 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.". 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. 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. 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. Berk has continued to work with the HFPA, which the organization said was a "positive working relationship." I felt like there was a ball in my throat. But the question now is whether or not this is the sound of HFPA's death rattle. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. It's unclear whether or not any other stars will follow suit and physically return their own Golden Globes. LOS ANGELES - The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which hosts the Golden Globes, is under fire after a former president of the organization sent an anti-Black Lives Matter email. 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. IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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. Legal 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. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Need a break from the news? After the 2003 luncheon, Frasers representatives asked the HFPA for an apology, and Berk confirmed to GQ that he did write one. Absolutely. Between 2002 and 2018, only five Golden Globe Awards had at least one BIPOC acting winner. President Lorenzo Soria, who oversaw the organization that puts on the annual Golden Globe Awards, has died. 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." 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. 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. 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. And he starts moving it around," the actor said. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Terry Crews is suing the Hollywood agent he accused of groping him last year at an industry event. 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. In addition to setting up a hotline to report violations, the HFPA planned to increase membership over the course of 18 months, in addition to "creating a list of [Diversity, Equity and Inclusion] consultants.". What to Know About Michelle Wolf the 2018 WHCA Dinner Host, Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It. His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. The group even adopted the motto, "Unity without discrimination of religion or race," according to Hollywood Foreign Press Association: A History. Have I wanted to many, many times? "Am I still frightened? 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.. 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 report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.. It made me feel reclusive. His career seemed on hold. "I felt ill," Fraser said. The actor said he refused to sign, because he "didn't get the joke." In the same interview, Fraser claimed that he was sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, in 2003. In response, entertainers have also stated that they will "refrain from any HFPA sanctioned events." "If I've done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended," he said in the statement. 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. Then, Fraser said, Berk groped him. After Fraser spoke publicly about the incident in 2018, HFPA conducted an investigation into the incident. 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. 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.". You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! The incident happened in public at a summer luncheon held by the HFPA (which hosts the Golden Globes annually). (Reuters). 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Compared to their previous plan, this timeline is significantly more specific, going through the steps that will be taken between May and August 2021. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Related This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Then he went home and told his wife. 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." Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting. 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. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. 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." 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.". Have I wanted to many, many times? And he starts moving it around. 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. I think it was. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. Your California Privacy Rights. 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 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. 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. 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. 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. In comparison, members of the film and television academies don't get paid to serve on committees, writes CNET. 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? ", Kourtney Kardashian Shut Down a Fan Who Asked If She's Pregnant and Ignited a Debate About Women's Bodies. LOS ANGELES Brendan Fraser is joining the #MeToo movement, coming forward on Thursday with allegations of sexual assault by an ex-president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. "I felt like a little kid. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. (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.