Brendan Fraser is talking out as soon as once more towards the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and the Golden Globes. In a Nov. 16 interview with GQ, the actor mentioned that if he’s nominated on the awards ceremony for his function in “The Whale,” he is not going to attend. “I’ve extra historical past with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than I’ve respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” Fraser mentioned. “No, I cannot take part.”
“It’s due to the historical past that I’ve with them. And my mom did not increase a hypocrite. You can name me plenty of issues, however not that,” he added.
Back in 2018, in one other GQ interview, Fraser shared for the primary time publicly allegations towards Philip Berk, a former president and former member of the HFPA, the group that votes for and runs the Golden Globes. Fraser claimed Berk groped and assaulted him in 2003 on the Beverly Hills Hotel. Berk has disputed Fraser’s account.
When Fraser’s accusations got here out 4 years in the past, the HFPA mentioned in an announcement on the time, “The HFPA stands firmly towards sexual harassment and the kind of conduct described on this article.” They added, “This report consists of alleged info that the HFPA was beforehand unaware of and presently we’re investigating additional particulars surrounding the incident.” Fraser spoke to the impartial investigator, however he informed GQ within the new interview that the HFPA got here again with a joint assertion they may launch collectively. According to Fraser, the assertion would learn, “Although it was concluded that Mr. Berk inappropriately touched Mr. Fraser, the proof helps that it was meant to be taken as a joke and never as a sexual advance.” Fraser wouldn’t signal it, and Berk remained with the group.
“I knew they’d shut ranks,” Fraser informed GQ within the new interview. “I knew they’d kick the can down the street. I knew they’d get forward of the story. I knew that I definitely had no future with that system because it was.” The HFPA didn’t instantly reply to POPSUGAR’s request for touch upon Fraser’s newest feedback.
There was ultimately a significant shakeup on the HFPA, however not due to Fraser’s allegations. In 2021, the LA Times revealed that HFPA had no Black members. They additionally revealed many moral and monetary conflicts among the many members. The information got here not lengthy after the 2021 nominees had been launched and broadly derided for his or her lack of variety and significantly for excluding motion pictures and TV reveals about Black individuals. Berk was expelled from the group in April 2021 after sending members an e mail with an article that referred to as Black Lives Matter a “racist hate motion.”
NBC introduced in May 2021 that they’d not air the Golden Globes, and the 2022 ceremony was not broadcast. But NBC modified course for the upcoming 2023 ceremony and can air them in early January, agreeing to a one-year take care of the group. That determination was in response to modifications made by HFPA. The HFPA mentioned they added 103 voters, making 51.5 % of voters “racially and ethnically numerous;” Black voters now comprise 10 % of the voting physique. They additionally instituted extra guidelines about reward giving and introduced charitable donations.
Fraser informed GQ that “in the intervening time” he doesn’t imagine in HFPA’s introduced reforms. “Maybe time will inform,” he mentioned. He mentioned that the group by no means apologized to him. The HFPA informed GQ they apologized twice. Berk informed GQ in 2018 that he wrote a letter to Fraser concerning the incident however didn’t admit “wrongdoing.” Fraser mentioned if the HFPA needed to make amends, he would need it’s “honest,” however added that he is not the one one who’s felt wronged by the group and that individuals have confided in him. “I’d anticipate that it could be one thing that might be significant for them too,” he mentioned.
