Brendan Fraser is considered by critics and industry insiders to be a major frontrunner during the upcoming awards season due to his stellar performance in The Whale.
However, there is one ceremony that he will definitely NOT be attending — the 2023 Golden Globes.
In a new interview, Brendan revealed that he has no intention of being at the Golden Globes. This is because of the allegation he made many years ago against Philip Berk, who was the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
Back in 2018, the Hollywood favorite recalled an incident that happened in the summer of 2003 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. According to Brendan, when he reached out to shake Philip’s hand, Philip reached around and assaulted him. Brendan stated then:
“His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around.
I felt ill. I felt like a little kid. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I thought I was going to cry.”
He said at the time that he decided not to go public about what happened:
“I didn’t want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative.”
Brendan went on to say then the incident made him “feel reclusive,” and he wondered if his career was derailed by the HFPA:
“I don’t know if this curried disfavor with the group, with the HFPA. But the silence was defeating.”
Now in a new interview with GQ, Brendan was asked if he would be present at the 2023 Golden Globes in January:
“I have more history with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than I have respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.
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.”
When asked if he believed in the HFPA’s commitment to reform after facing a huge diversity issue, Brendan said:
“At the moment, no. Maybe time will tell if they’re going to… I don’t know what they’re going to do. I don’t know.”
And he said this about whether he will campaign for awards season for the film:
“I owe it to myself. I owe it to the filmmakers. I know I owe it to those fans who paid to come and see me and stand in line in the sun and, you know, all of that. I owe it to my kids. This is my shot.”
