Brendan Fraser won’t attend Golden Globes after claim he was sexually assaulted – National

Brendan Fraser says he is not going to attend the Golden Globes subsequent yr, even when he’s nominated for his lionized efficiency in The Whale.

The actor’s choice to not attend the glitzy award present stems from an incident by which Fraser, 53, claimed he was sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Overseas Press Affiliation (HFPA), the group that organizes the Golden Globes.

Although Fraser publicly accused Berk in 2018, he claimed the HFPA member groped him at a lunch in Beverly Hills in 2003.

In a brand new interview with GQ Journal, The Mummy star confirmed the allegation in opposition to Berk — and subsequent media consideration — was a contributing consider why he disappeared from Hollywood. Regardless of ample success in his early profession, the favored ’90s and ’00s actor vanished from the massive display screen for a number of years.

On the time, Fraser claimed he was “depressing” and “reclusive.” He stated he blamed himself for the alleged sexual assault.

Berk has denied ever sexually assaulting Fraser, although he instructed GQ in 2018 that he did write a letter of apology to the actor.

In an inside investigation, the HFPA decided Berk had “inappropriately touched” Fraser however claimed the groping “was supposed to be taken as a joke.” (Berk was later faraway from the HFPA in 2021 after he stated the Black Lives Matter is “a racist hate motion.”)

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Brendan Fraser receives 6-minute standing ovation for ‘The Whale’ at Venice Movie Fest

“I’ve extra historical past with the Hollywood Overseas Press Affiliation than I’ve respect for the Hollywood Overseas Press Affiliation,” Fraser instructed GQ.

Now, even when he’s nominated for The Whale (which can additionally rating Fraser an Oscar nomination), he stated he “is not going to take part” within the Golden Globes.

“It’s due to the historical past that I’ve with them,” he stated. “And my mom didn’t increase a hypocrite. You possibly can name me a whole lot of issues, however not that.”

The Whale, which marked Fraser’s triumphant return to Hollywood, was proven on the Venice Movie Competition and Toronto Worldwide Movie Competition the place it obtained widespread acclaim.

The movie follows Charlie, a 600-pound man performed by Fraser, who tries to construct a relationship together with his estranged daughter Ellie, performed by Sadie Sink.

The Golden Globe Awards are scheduled to happen on Jan. 10, 2023.

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