Famous actor Brendan Fraser is likely to be nominated for an award for his performance in “The Whale,” but he won’t be attending the awards ceremony due to a traumatic run-in with the former president of the organization.
Fraser may be the frontrunner to receive an Oscar for his role in Darren Aranofsky’s “The Whale,” but he would have to attend precursory events such as the Golden Globes. That’s not something he’s willing to do, according to his interview with GQ Magazine.
“No, I will not participate… It’s because of the history that I have with them. And my mother didn’t raise a hypocrite. You can call me a lot of things, but not that,” Fraser told the magazine.
Fraser previously alleged that the former president and member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Philip Berk assaulted him. Berk disputed the allegations.
Brendan Fraser will not attend the #GoldenGlobes if he’s nominated
“I will not participate … because of the history that I have with them. And my mother didn’t raise a hypocrite. You can call me a lot of things, but not that
(via @GQ) pic.twitter.com/IRWx8mypUS
— Culture Crave ? (@CultureCrave) November 16, 2022
Fraser alleged that Berk groped him at a 2003 luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel, according to GQ. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association investigated the allegations and reportedly asked Fraser to sign a joint statement. The actor wasn’t satisfied with this.
“Although it was concluded that Mr. Berk inappropriately touched Mr. Fraser, the evidence supports that it was intended to be taken as a joke and not as a sexual advance,” read the statement that required Fraser’s signature. He refused to sign the document, according to Variety.
“I knew they would close ranks,” Fraser said, according to Variety. “I knew they would kick the can down the road. I knew they would get ahead of the story. I knew that I certainly had no future with that system as it was,” he said. (RELATED: Canadian Rockstar Jacob Hoggard Sentenced To Five Years In Prison For Sexual Assault)
Presenting our final #GQMOTY 2022 cover star: Brendan Fraser.
Four years ago, he opened up to GQ about his supposed disappearance from Hollywood. Now, he’s an Oscar favorite — and reckoning with the kind of comeback you only see in movies: https://t.co/ySB4Le6kOy pic.twitter.com/uHF5ICaCEN
— GQ Magazine (@GQMagazine) November 16, 2022
Fraser said his sour experience with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association made him “retreat” from Hollywood. He said he felt “something had been taken away” from him at the time, according to GQ.
“I have more history with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than I have respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” Fraser told GQ.
