The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) addressed their controversial diversity issue, namely the fact that the organization currently has no Black members, during Sunday night's broadcast. That board 12 active (internal) members and three TBA non-members (outside) directly picked the new president to take over for Ali Sar. Brendan Fraser was sexually assaulted in 2003 by Phil Berk, the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization that hosts the Golden Globes. However, the first awards show wasn't the glitz and glamor that it would become. And he starts moving it around. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Fraser's story is a reminder that while sexual misconduct is disproportionately experienced by women, it can happen to anyone, regardless of gender or sexuality. In a recent statement with GQ, Berk called Fraser's story "a total fabrication." In an interview with GQ, Brendan Fraser alleged that Philip Berk, former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), groped him. The organization drew widespread criticism for this year's slate of . ADVERTISEMENT Amid outcry, NBC says it will not air Golden Globes in 2022 By JAKE COYLE May 10, 2021 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." I thought I was going to cry," Fraser said. Brendan Fraser claims ex-Hollywood Foreign Press president groped him. The HFPA investigated the accusation, but Fraser said the organization declined to share the full results of their investigation with him. A comprehensive 2016 study by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission found that some 75 percent of U.S. survivors of workplace harassment experienced retaliation when they spoke up about their experiences, with male-dominated and service-oriented industries as some of the biggest hotbeds of workplace injustice. Have I stopped myself? Absolutely, he says. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. 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. Its investigation concluded that "the evidence supports that it was intended to be taken as a joke" and suggested issuing a joint statement with Fraser. And he starts moving it around. In March 2021, the HFPA responded to the criticism by pledging to "increase membership to a minimum of 100 members this year, with a requirement that at least 13 percent of the membership be Black journalists," writes The Wrap. He rushed home and told his wife about the encounter, but was afraid to go public with the incident. . [Work] withered on the vine for me. Fraser, who came forward in February to accuse Berk of sexual misconduct, talked to GQ magazine about his sexual harassment claim with the HFPA. Need a break from the news? All rights reserved, UN Report: How Florida is Fueling Haiti's Arms Trafficking Crisis, Philippine Provincial Governor Shot Dead by Gunmen While Meeting Villagers, Pa. Woman Went Missing in 1992 and Declared Dead. This Article is related to: Film and tagged Brendan Fraser, Sexual Harassment. (Photo by Daniel Zuchnik/WireImage). 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. In 2020, Norwegian entertainment journalist Kjersti Flaa sued the Hollywood Foreign Press Association after she was denied membership into the group. "Pregnancy Nose" Reveals Are Sweeping TikTok. We want to hear from you! Berk, who is still a member of the HFPA, told the magazine that Frasers version of events is a total fabrication and has previously denied grabbing the actor to the New York Times. Berk, who is still a member of the HFPA, also did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment but has denied the assault ever happened to The New York Times. April 19, 2021 3:30 PM PT. A cause of. the first of which spanned from 2003 . "I felt ill. Absolutely. Quotes displayed in real-time or delayed by at least 15 minutes. In my mind, at least, something had been taken away from me., The HFPA responded late Thursday, saying in a statement that the group "stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article. (Reps for Fraser and the HFPA did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment). 2023 Deadline Hollywood, LLC. Frasers version is a total fabrication, he also said in a statement to GQ, acknowledging that he wrote a letter to Fraser about the alleged incident. "I didn't want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative," he said. Fraser also surmised his career may have suffered . Am I still frightened? "His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint," Fraser told GQ. In an interview with GQ published Thursday, Fraser said that he was groped in 2003 by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization that hosts the Golden Globes. CBS reports that in 2018, Fraser even asked to see the investigation's full report so he'd "know what I'm signing off on," but the HFPA has repeatedly refused to share its report. Get The Latest IndieWire Alerts And Newsletters Delivered Directly To Your Inbox. "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." Berk recounted the incident in his memoir "With Signs and Wonders," but said he pinched Fraser's behind as a joke. In a group email with HFPA members, Berk reportedly. Absolutely. "It made me feel reclusive," the . Biography [ edit] Soria was born in Argentina to Italian parents who left the country during World War II. Lorenzo Soria has been re-elected president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the 2016-2017 year. Brendan Fraser Says Lost Superman Role Would've Been 'Faustian Bargain' Anyway: 'I'm Not a One-Trick Pony' Throughout its history, the HFPA membership has never gone over 100, and as of May 2021 there are 86 members. What is unusual is a man publicly opening up about experiencing sexual harassment, which is one of the reasons Fraser's account is garnering so much attention. I think it was. As a member of the HFPA since 1989, he previously served as president in 2003-05. Berk reached out to shake The Mummy actor's hand. Brendan Fraser attends AOL Build to discuss his role in 'The Affair' at AOL HQ on Dec. 14, 2016 in New York City. I felt ill. Between 2002 and 2018, only five Golden Globe Awards had at least one BIPOC acting winner. On his way out, he met Berk, whose organization votes on the Golden Globes. According to The Guardian, Cruise isn't the only entertainer speaking out. That's when they came up with the idea for the Golden Globe Awards. Deadline is a part of Penske Media Corporation. Fraser said when the group approached him and asked him to sign off on the statement, "What I said to them was, 'Show me the investigator's report, and then I'll know what I'm signing off on.'" But when they first organized, they still weren't taken too seriously, and mostly all they did was "meet at various members' homes to share information." All Rights Reserved. The HFPA's board members are also paid, making "between $63,433 and $135,957 in the tax year ending June 30, 2019. 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. In an interview with GQ published Thursday, Fraser said that he was groped in 2003 by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization. I call them friends in my mind. 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. This is the shady truth about the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. However, he said the note did not admit anything. By subscribing, I agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. By clicking Accept All Cookies, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. president criticizing Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors and likening BLM to a hate group . Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. Meher Tatna is president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which created the Golden Globe Awards in 1944. . The crisis-plagued Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the body that organises the Golden Globes, has expelled Philip Berk, its former president who sparked widespread outrage by sharing . You've successfully subscribed to this newsletter! He did have his reps ask the HFPA for a written apology, telling GQ that the HFPA agreed they would never allow Berk in a room with Fraser again. In 1943, actress Argentina Brunetti and her husband Miro Brunetti, a foreign correspondent, co-founded the Hollywood Foreign Correspondents Association, which was renamed the Hollywood Foreign Press Association in 1954 (via Golden Globes). The Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) on Sunday announced the winners of the 79th Annual Golden Globe Awards, from the Beverly Hilton. But the question now is whether or not this is the sound of HFPA's death rattle. HFPA President Lorenzo Soria expressed his enthusiasm and hopes for what the grant bestowed upon CSUN will bring. Brendan Fraser (left) accused former Hollywood Foreign Press President Philip Berk of groping him in 2003. According to the BBC, Berk "forwarded it as a point of information," though after seeing the consequences of his actions Berk later said that he "regretted sending the email.". In my mind, at least, something had been taken away from me.. His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. Philip Berk, 88, had been a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for 44 years and its president for eight years. Oscars 2023: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Predictions It made me feel reclusive. His career seemed on hold. Ad Choices. Then he went home and told his wife. Absolutely., In the article, Berk says he wrote a letter to Fraser about the incident but admitted no wrongdoing.. I felt ill, he said, recalling his emotions after he removed Berks hand. Influencers: Profiles of a Partnership 2022, How to Pitch Stories and Articles to IndieWire, Leslie Grace Disagrees with Claim 'Batgirl' Was 'Unreleasable': There Was 'Potential for a Good Film', Brendan Fraser Says Lost Superman Role Would've Been 'Faustian Bargain' Anyway: 'I'm Not a One-Trick Pony', Oscars 2023: Best Makeup and Hairstyling Predictions, From 'Nymphomaniac' to 'Little Ashes': Unsimulated Sex Scenes in 36 Films. LOS ANGELES Brendan Fraser is joining the #MeToo movement, coming forward on Thursday with allegations of sexual assault by an ex-president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Berk is still a member of the HFPA. This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.. (Berk denies that the HFPA retaliated against Fraser, telling GQ, His career declined through no fault of ours). Among those efforts, transparency seems to be the major buzzword for now, I hear. After the incident, Fraser's representatives asked the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for a written apology, and although Berk acknowledges that one was written, he insisted that his "apology admitted no wrongdoing." In his suit, Russell alleged that the HFPA "abuse their positions and engage in unethical and potentially unlawful deals and arrangements which amount to a payola scheme" and claimed that he was fired after he brought these issues up with then-president Phillip Berk. Check out 100 years of eye looks: 2023 Cond Nast. I dont know if this curried disfavor with the group, with the HFPA. The actor said he told his then-wife, Afton Smith, about the incident, but did not speak publicly about it until this week. The Time's Up organization, as well as numerous entertainers and PR firms, expressed dissatisfaction with the proposed reforms, stating that "the HFPA's list of recommendations largely contains no specifics [and] no commitments to real accountability or change,"writes The Hollywood Reporter. One member confused Daniel Kaluuya for another Black actor, Leslie Odom Jr., just minutes after Kaluuya's Oscar win, while a former Hollywood Foreign Press president was expelled from the group . I felt like a little kid. Mutual Fund and ETF data provided by Refinitiv Lipper. Since 2012, the number of Syrian refugees alone has increased tenfold. And he starts moving it around," the actor said. LOS ANGELES Brendan Fraser is joining the #MeToo movement, coming forward on Thursday with allegations of sexual assault by an ex-president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. He questioned if the HFPA blacklisted him as a result, since he was rarely invited back to the Golden Globes, which the HFPA runs, after 2003. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Absolutely. Fraser refused to sign off on the joint statement and maintained, "I don't get the joke.". Forbes also mentions that with "anemic ratings and dwindling ad dollars," it's unclear if the Golden Globes is even worth the $60 million NBC pays to license the show. 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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." Members ended up returning the watches in response to the criticism regarding the gifts, while USA Films claimed that "the studio got the watches for free and didn't realize how expensive they were.". The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article, the associated said in an official statement. (Reuters) Brendan Fraser claims he was groped in 2003 by Philip Berk, then. Is it ever okay to ask a woman especially one who's publicly undergone IVF if she's pregnant? Brendan Fraser, who stars in "The Whale," claims former HFPA President Philip Berk sexually assaulted him in 2003. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association responded in a statement that reads: "The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article. With less than 100 members, HFPA accepts less than five new members every year, and "any member can veto a newcomer's application in voting done by secret ballot," reports The Washington Post.