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.". Over the years we've continued a positive working relationship with Brendan, which includes announcing Golden Globe nominees, attending the ceremony and participating in press conferences. Brendan Fraser is speaking out for the first time about his experience with sexual harassment in Hollywood. The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article, the associated said in an official statement. Brendan Fraser is sharing his own Me Too experienceand says a 15-year-oldassault may have contributed to the derailment of his career. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.". I think it was. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is a group of just 87 critics, and the LA Times report said the group has no Black voting members. 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 response, entertainers have also stated that they will "refrain from any HFPA sanctioned events." The HFPA, meanwhile, declined to comment for GQ's story. He rushed home and told his wife about the encounter, but was afraid to go public with the incident. 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. 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. However some, like Alexander Nevsky, joined because they were "just plain curious.". Former HFPA president Phillip Berk. Absolutely, he says. The HFPA investigated the accusation, but Fraser said the organization declined to share the full results of their investigation with him. 2023 IndieWire Media, LLC. Cruise won his three awards for his roles in "Magnolia," "Jerry Maguire," and "Born on the Fourth of July.". 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. Mr. Absolutely. Magazines, Digital I just know what my truth is.". The event left Fraser depressed and reclusive, he says, adding thathe was rarely invited back to the Globes after 2003. After the incident, Fraser's representatives asked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for a written apology, and although Berk acknowledges that one was written, he insisted that his "apology admitted no wrongdoing." Ad Choices. 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.. Berk recounted the incident in his memoir "With Signs and Wonders," but said he pinched Fraser's behind as a joke. 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. There was also an incident in 1999, when HFPA members were gifted $400 Coach watches by USA Films. Market data provided by Factset. 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. Berk, who is still a member of the HFPA, told the magazine that Frasers version of events is a total fabrication and has previously denied grabbing the actor to the New York Times. I didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative. According to Fraser, though, it wasn't a joke, and he was overcome with fear and had to remove Berk's hand. Brendan Fraser is the latest actor to come forward with his story of sexual assault in the wake of the #MeToo and Times Up movement. 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. Lorenzo Soria (27 November 1951 - 7 August 2020) was an Argentine-Italian journalist and executive who served as the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for three terms. Between 2002 and 2018, only five Golden Globe Awards had at least one BIPOC acting winner. Screenrant reports that WarnerMedia also joined the boycott and in their official press release, "called the HFPA out for a history of sexist, racist, and homophobic questions directed at actors and creatives at past press events.". Fraser said the moment still haunts him, especially, for instance, when he sees Berk on the television during the Golden Globes. Signup for Breaking News Alerts & Newsletters. 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. 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. 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." 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. She Was Just Found in Puerto Rico, Driver, Passenger Suffer Life-Threatening Injuries After Crash Shuts Down Lake Murray Boulevard in La Mesa, San Diego Lands on Top 20 List of Happiest Places to Live,' Other San Diego Cities on List. 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. However, the first awards show wasn't the glitz and glamor that it would become. 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.". That last bit is, of course, the trial balloon in what the HFPA hopes will be clearer skies now that it has passed a series of bylaws and other much-needed reforms. 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.". 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. 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. Berk has continued to work with the HFPA, which the organization said was a "positive working relationship." 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. All Rights Reserved. "It made me feel reclusive," the . Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, Leslie Grace Disagrees with Claim 'Batgirl' Was 'Unreleasable': There Was 'Potential for a Good Film', Brendan Fraser Says Lost Superman Role Would've Been 'Faustian Bargain' Anyway: 'I'm Not a One-Trick Pony', Oscars 2023: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Predictions, From 'Nymphomaniac' to 'Little Ashes': Unsimulated Sex Scenes in 36 Films. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. Fraser is not the only male star taking action over assault claims. One member confused Daniel Kaluuya for another Black actor, Leslie Odom Jr., just minutes after Kaluuya's Oscar win, while a former Hollywood Foreign Press president was expelled from the group . Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Brendan Fraser Says Former Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Assaulted Him. Need a break from the news? In an interview with GQ published Thursday, Fraser said that he was groped in 2003 by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization that hosts the Golden Globes. The alleged incident left Fraser overcome with panic and fear. 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. He claims in 2003, he was sexually assaulted by Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk. 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 . Lorenzo Soria has been re-elected president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the 2016-2017 year. 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. Get the latest hollywood foreign press association news, articles, videos and photos on the New York Post. 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. head of Hollywood Foreign Press . 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. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. For the HFPA, the Golden Globe Awards were meant to be a way to "boost their profile." retailers. 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. It made me feel reclusive. His career seemed on hold. "I felt like a little kid. Fraser said that at the time, he panicked: "I felt ill. Held in 1944, the first Golden Globes Awards were, according to Vox, an "informal luncheon" at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Absolutely.. 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. Then he went home and told his wife. After Fraser spoke publicly about the incident in 2018, HFPA conducted an investigation into the incident. Absolutely. He said he asked for a written apology and that the HFPA set an agreement to never allow Fraser or Berk to be together in the same room again. Sign Up: Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! IndieWire is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Sign up for our Email Newsletters here. This also wasn't the first lawsuit alleging such behavior. 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. 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. 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. ", The Shady Truth About The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Hollywood Foreign Press Association: A History. Related Your California Privacy Rights. the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press . 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. What to Know About Michelle Wolf the 2018 WHCA Dinner Host, Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It. Legal Statement. Despite his inappropriate behavior, Philip Berk stayed on as a part of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. The alleged groping occurred at the Beverly Hills Hotel. 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. Withdraw consent by clicking on the link in any issue. The only other time Berk was exiled from the group was in 2014, when he took a six month leave of absence after his memoir came out. I felt ill. Absolutely. ", Andrea is an entertainment producer at CBSNews.com, First published on June 7, 2018 / 2:27 PM. 01:57. The 49-year-old Fraser told GQ about the alleged incident at a 2003 luncheon in the Beverly Hills Hotel. The allegation comes in a current GQ profile of Fraser titled What Ever Happened to Brendan Fraser?. / CBS News. "I'm the only one who would know where I was touched on my body," he said to GQ. Have I wanted to many, many times? 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. Legal Statement. He also said he did not care why Berk touched him. However, he said the note did not admit anything. 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. I dont know if this curried disfavor with the group, with the HFPA. An email sent Sunday by a former Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. 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? I felt like a little kid. June 7, 2018 / 2:27 PM 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. Actual trophies wouldn't be given until the third annual Golden Globe Awards. Do I feel like I need to say something? I thought I was going to cry. I felt like a little kid. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. At least 10 dead after winter storm slams South, Midwest, The Saturday Six: Dental device controversy, scientist's bug find and more, Indonesia fuel depot fire kills 18; more than a dozen missing, 3 children killed, 2 others wounded at Texas home, How a Minnesota hockey league helped a Ukrainian refugee feel at home, Biden had cancerous skin lesion removed last month, doctor says, Duo of 81-year-old women plan to see the world in 80 days, Tom Sizemore, actor known for "Saving Private Ryan" and "Heat," dies at 61, Trump met with early primary state GOP leaders, London police apologize as officer admits to dozens of rapes, Kevin Spacey pleads not guilty to 7 sexual assault charges in London, Writer files upgraded lawsuit alleging Trump "forcibly raped" her. According to The Guardian, Cruise isn't the only entertainer speaking out. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock. For transparencys sake, along with Hoehne, the current HFPA board includes Gabriel Lerman, Sabrina Joshi, Yukiko Nakajima, Scott Orlin, Kirpi Uimonen, Henry Arnaud, Barbara de Oliveira Pinto, Barbara Gasser, Tina Johnk Christensen, Greet Ramaekers and Armando Gallo. Berk is still a member of the HFPA. 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. The elevation of the groups VP to the top job of the 80-member-plus organization comes just under two weeks after the HFPA expanded its Board of Directors to 15 in the latest of a series of reform endeavors by the much-scorned group. 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." He also wrote about the incident in his memoir, according to People, but Berk said he pinched Fraser in jest.. 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. His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint, Fraser said. That's when they came up with the idea for the Golden Globe Awards. Why didn't Fraser go public? Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) on Sunday announced the winners of the 79th Annual Golden Globe Awards, from the Beverly Hilton. According to. "His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint," Fraser told GQ. Leslie Grace Disagrees with Claim 'Batgirl' Was 'Unreleasable': There Was 'Potential for a Good Film' 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. 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." (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage). . He questioned if the HFPA blacklisted him as a result, since he was rarely invited back to the Golden Globes, which the HFPA runs, after 2003. In. I dont know if this curried disfavor with the group, with the HFPA. 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. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. As a member of the HFPA since 1989, he previously served as president in 2003-05. Absolutely," he said. According to the Los Angeles Times, NBC also dropped the Golden Globe Awards in 1968, after the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) found that the awards show "substantially misleads the public as to how the winners were chosen and the procedures followed in choosing them." 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.. All rights reserved. Absolutely. 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. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association ( HFPA) is a nonprofit organization of journalists [3] and photographers who report on the entertainment industry activity and interests in the United States for media (newspaper, [4] magazine and book publication, television and radio broadcasting) predominantly outside the U.S. Frasers version is a total fabrication, he also said in a statement to GQ, acknowledging that he wrote a letter to Fraser about the alleged incident. 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. Fraser can be seen asJames Fletcher Chace in Danny Boyles FX series Trust, which debuts March 25. But the silence was deafening, he said, adding that he was rarely invited back to the Globes after 2003. Do I feel like I need to say something? ", "Am I still frightened? 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. According to Fraser, the assault happened when Berk reached out to shake Frasers hand on his way out of the hotel. He told GQ that he removed Berk's hand. And he starts moving it around," the actor said. Meher Tatna is president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which created the Golden Globe Awards in 1944. . The actor said he refused to sign, because he "didn't get the joke." 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.". ", In an email to GQ, Berk denied these claims, reportedly writing, "Mr. Fraser's version is a total fabrication." 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. 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. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. The HFPA's board members are also paid, making "between $63,433 and $135,957 in the tax year ending June 30, 2019. "If I've done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended," he said in the statement. Berk wrote in his memoir that he did so in jest, but Fraser remembers the incident much differently. Absolutely., In the article, Berk says he wrote a letter to Fraser about the incident but admitted no wrongdoing.. "I didn't want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative," he said. The former "Mummy" star said that he panicked. 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.'" 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Miller Denies Allegation He Sexually Assaulted and Punched Woman While in College. I thought I was going to cry, he says. Then, Fraser said, Berk groped him. But Fraser said the HFPA refused to share the report. Since 2012, the number of Syrian refugees alone has increased tenfold. 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. ", 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.". ADVERTISEMENT Amid outcry, NBC says it will not air Golden Globes in 2022 By JAKE COYLE May 10, 2021 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.. I felt like a little kid. "And he starts moving it around." I thought I was going to cry, he told the magazine. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Brendan Fraser became the latest actor to speak out about his own #MeToo experience this week as Hollywood continues to address its problems with sexual assault and harassment. The actor said that the incident made him reclusive and he retreated from public life. of self-dealing, ethical lapses. The email itself was an article from conservative commentator David Horowitz's Freedom Center website, FrontPage Mag, although it didn't include a link or a citation and was simply copy-pasted into the body of the email. "I'm humbled to be elected by my peers and colleagues here at the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and. 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. 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. Absolutely. 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. All rights reserved. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. 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. That board 12 active (internal) members and three TBA non-members (outside) directly picked the new president to take over for Ali Sar. 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.
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