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. 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 didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative. What to Know About Michelle Wolf the 2018 WHCA Dinner Host, Underwater Noise Pollution Is Disrupting Ocean LifeBut We Can Fix It. Legal Statement. But the silence was deafening. Fraser tells GQ he was rarely invited back to the Globes after 2003. In 2020, Norwegian entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa sued the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after she was denied membership into the group. Fraser said that the alleged assault left him feeling "ill," "like a little kid," and "like someone had thrown invisible paint on me." I thought I was going to cry. I think it was. 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. We want to hear from you! 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. Allure may earn a portion of sales from products that are purchased through our site as part of our Affiliate Partnerships with And HFPA has stated that their payments are "vetted by a professional nonprofit compensation consultant and outside counsel, where appropriate. 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. The alleged groping occurred at the Beverly Hills Hotel. ", In an email to GQ, Berk denied these claims, reportedly writing, "Mr. Fraser's version is a total fabrication." But Fraser said the HFPA refused to share the report. ", Fraser recalled that when he left the room, he saw a police officer but could not bring himself to report what happened. Fraser refused to sign off on the joint statement and maintained, "I don't get the joke.". 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 . The HFPA investigated the accusation, but Fraser said the organization declined to share the full results of their investigation with him. According to Fraser, the assault happened when Berk reached out to shake Frasers hand on his way out of the hotel. Brendan Fraser claims ex-Hollywood Foreign Press president groped him. Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. That board 12 active (internal) members and three TBA non-members (outside) directly picked the new president to take over for Ali Sar. "His left-hand reaches around grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. 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. Absolutely.". Absolutely.. Actual trophies wouldn't be given until the third annual Golden Globe Awards. 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. This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.". 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." 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. Why didn't Fraser go public? However some, like Alexander Nevsky, joined because they were "just plain curious.". of self-dealing, ethical lapses. ", Andrea is an entertainment producer at CBSNews.com, First published on June 7, 2018 / 2:27 PM. 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. 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. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Jonathan Majors on Oscar Favorites, Bad Reviews, and the Road Trip That Made Him Realize He Was a Star, The Best Picture Race Got a Lot More Confusing This Week, Tom Cruise Made the Rounds This Week, but Other Oscar Nominees Got More Applause Than Top Gun: Maverick, How Michael B. Jordans Love of Anime Shaped Creed III Fight Scenes, Translating the Unconscious Into Images: The Cinematography of Bardo, Poker Face Takes Viewers on a Cross-Country Road Trip Without Leaving New York, The 50 Best Movies of 2022, According to 165 Critics from Around the World, All 81 Titles Unceremoniously Removed from HBO Max (So Far), 10 Shows Canceled but Not Forgotten in 2022. His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. 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." According to The Guardian, Cruise isn't the only entertainer speaking out. Absolutely. 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 told GQ that Berk groped him at a luncheon in 2003. "), Letter aside, Fraser said, the experience "made me retreat. Fraser's account is disconcertingly reminiscent of reports from women in Hollywood who have spoken out about experiencing professional retaliation after being harassed or assaulted. 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. Magazines, Or create a free account to access more articles, Brendan Fraser Says Former Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Assaulted Him. I felt ill. 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. Scott. But the question now is whether or not this is the sound of HFPA's death rattle. 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.. 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. Berk told GQ he was still an active voter with the HFPA and faced no disciplinary action. 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.". Since 2012, the number of Syrian refugees alone has increased tenfold. Absolutely. 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. It made me feel reclusive." Up to 100 PR firms also indicated that they were disappointed with the HFPA's lack of commitment to "transformational change. Have I wanted to many, many times? Absolutely, he said. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. 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. According to Deadline, in 2013, the HFPA settled a suit with its former publicist Michael Russell. IE 11 is not supported. 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. 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.". (Reps for Fraser and the HFPA did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment). Shonda Rhimes, producer of the show "Bridgerton," even noted that HFPA rejected their press conference until the show became a "surprise hit. Fraser is not the only male star taking action over assault claims. Golden Globes voters in tumult: Members accuse Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. 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. He previously. I call them friends in my mind. Am I still frightened? 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. The alleged incident left Fraser overcome with panic and fear. 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. And he starts moving it around, Fraser claimed. 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. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Do I feel like I need to say something? In. All Rights Reserved. I felt ill. I thought I was going to cry. 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. Helen Hoehne will be the next President of the HFPA, it was revealed today. He also said he did not care why Berk touched him. 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. or redistributed. Vote for your favorite beauty products now! Do I feel like I need to say something? I felt ill. HFPA President Lorenzo Soria expressed his enthusiasm and hopes for what the grant bestowed upon CSUN will bring. 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. "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." Historically, the HFPA has sought to maintain its reserved and exclusive appearance. You have reached your limit of 4 free articles. Despite his inappropriate behavior, Philip Berk stayed on as a part of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Former HFPA president Phillip Berk. 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." There have also been numerous claims that voters are easily swayed. Have I stopped myself? Berk recounted the incident in his memoir "With Signs and Wonders," but said he pinched Fraser's behind as a joke. Absolutely., In the article, Berk says he wrote a letter to Fraser about the incident but admitted no wrongdoing.. 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. 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. I felt ill. Ad Choices. Meher Tatna is president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which created the Golden Globe Awards in 1944. . I became depressed. '", 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.". I didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative, he told GQ. 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. He rushed home and told his wife about the encounter, but was afraid to go public with the incident. 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. All Rights Reserved. HFPA also maintained that Berk, a 41-year member of HFPA and eight-term former president, faced no disciplinary action and was going to remain an active member of the HFPA. ", Kourtney Kardashian Shut Down a Fan Who Asked If She's Pregnant and Ignited a Debate About Women's Bodies. 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. I thought I was going to cry.. Absolutely, he says. ", In May 2021, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association responded to the various critiques levied at them by announcing that they were going to be implementing "radical reform." Berk reached out to shake The Mummy actor's hand. Berk tells the magazine the HFPA never retaliated against Fraser: His career declined through no fault of ours., Am I still frightened? 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. Biography [ edit] Soria was born in Argentina to Italian parents who left the country during World War II. Have I wanted to many, many times? The alleged groping occurred at the Beverly Hills Hotel. 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.".