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. 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 midst of a crowded room, Fraser says, Berk reached out to shake the actor'shand, but instead grabbed his butt. The alleged incident left Fraser overcome with panic and fear. 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. And despite having several former and active members who are people of color, according to Variety, the organization hasn't had a Black member since 2002. Brendan Fraser is speaking out for the first time about his experience with sexual harassment in Hollywood. Write to Abigail Abrams at abigail.abrams@time.com. Scott. Compared to their previous plan, this timeline is significantly more specific, going through the steps that will be taken between May and August 2021. 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." Am I still frightened? 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.". 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. I felt like a little kid. And in 2019, HFPA members were flown to the set of "Emily in Paris," which later received two nominations. Absolutely. '", 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.". 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. 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). Fraser also shared that he wonders if the HFPA retaliated against him after the incident by depriving him of Golden Globes invitations or other professional opportunities. The alleged groping occurred at the Beverly Hills Hotel. 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 says he didn't have the courage to speak out about it earlier because of the "risk of humiliation, or damage to my career.. I felt ill. the first of which spanned from 2003 . 7 Things to Know About This Abuse Tactic. There have also been numerous claims that voters are easily swayed. Brendan Fraser is sharing his own Me Too experienceand says a 15-year-oldassault may have contributed to the derailment of his career. Berk told GQ he was still an active voter with the HFPA and faced no disciplinary action. But the silence was deafening, he said, adding that he was rarely invited back to the Globes after 2003. I thought I was going to cry. Interviews with leading film and TV creators about their process and craft. Get the best of Fox News' entertainment coverage, right in your inbox. 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. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Among those efforts, transparency seems to be the major buzzword for now, I hear. 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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. 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. 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 felt like a little kid. Have I stopped myself? All rights reserved. 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. Here is how Fraser describes the incident, which occurred at the Beverly Hills Hotel during an HFPA luncheon, to GQ: His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. 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. 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. There's many reasons, but was this one of them? The Hollywood Foreign Press Association has announced the re-election of Helen Hoehne to another term as president.According to the HFPA's press release, Hoehne won by "an overwhelming margin." 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. Absolutely. 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 . Throughout its history, the HFPA membership has never gone over 100, and as of May 2021 there are 86 members. 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. And he starts moving it around. Fraser described in aninterview with GQthe moment that "overcame him with panic and fear.". "Do I feel like I need to say something? But Fraser said the HFPA refused to share the report. In 2003 he began researching the business case for climate action for the . This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.". Fraser said the moment still haunts him, especially, for instance, when he sees Berk on the television during the Golden Globes. Related And he starts moving it around. Absolutely. ", However, as the Los Angeles Times investigation notes, these payments may go beyond what is reasonable. 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? Stay on top of the latest breaking film and TV news! User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and 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.. (Reuters). head of Hollywood Foreign Press . 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. 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." Fraser told GQ that Berk groped him at a luncheon in 2003. This announcement came at the heels of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's (HFPA) inability to come up with adequate reforms to address the various criticisms levied at the organization. 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Despite his inappropriate behavior, Philip Berk stayed on as a part of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. According to. "Am I still frightened? That's when they came up with the idea for the Golden Globe Awards. ", In an email to GQ, Berk denied these claims, reportedly writing, "Mr. Fraser's version is a total fabrication." Previously on the HFPAs Board of Directors from 2012-19, frequent German TV contributor Hoehne is one of the current board members. 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." Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. He claims in 2003, he was sexually assaulted by Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk. I felt ill. 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. 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. 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. 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I felt like there was a ball in my throat. "And he starts moving it around." Feb. 21, 2021. sexually assaulted him in 2003. . After the GQ story was published, the HFPA responded saying that it was investigating the incident. 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. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our 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.". Lorenzo Soria has been re-elected president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the 2016-2017 year. 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.". 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article, the associated said in an official statement. In the summer of 2003, then-president Philip Berk groped Brendan Fraser at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I thought I was going to cry," Fraser said. 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. Why didn't Fraser go public? I felt like a little kid. 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.". Absolutely.". The former "Mummy" star said that he panicked. A comprehensive 2016 study by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that some 75 percent of U.S. survivors of workplace harassment experienced retaliation when they spoke up about their experiences, with male-dominated and service-oriented industries as some of the biggest hotbeds of workplace injustice. . Have I stopped myself? And he starts moving it around, Fraser told the magazine, recalling becomingovercome with panic and fear. Berk says he just "pinched" the actor. June 7, 2018 / 2:27 PM I thought I was going to cry," he says. Fraser refused to sign off on the joint statement and maintained, "I don't get the joke.". The actor says he believes he was blacklisted in Hollywood partly due to the aftermath of the alleged incident. Terry Crews is suing the Hollywood agent he accused of groping him last year at an industry event. Fraser then said he removed Berks hand and immediately left the event. 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. (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. I felt like a little kid. Phil Berk is no longer a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association," the HFPA board added in a statement released yesterday (April 20). 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.". 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. 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. Check out 100 years of eye looks: 2023 Cond Nast. "His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. ", Kourtney Kardashian Shut Down a Fan Who Asked If She's Pregnant and Ignited a Debate About Women's Bodies. 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."