The Hollywood Foreign Press Commits to Reform: Will It Be Enough? Soon after NBC decided to cancel the 2022 broadcast of the Golden Globe Awards, actor Tom Cruise joined the boycott. Meher Tatna is president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which created the Golden Globe Awards in 1944. . It will be his second straight year as head of the organization. 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. In a new GQ profile titled What Ever Happened To Brendan Fraser?,the actor remembers being groped byPhilip Berk in the summer of 2003. The actor said he told his then-wife, Afton Smith, about the incident, but did not speak publicly about it until this week. Absolutely. 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. In the 21st century, according to the Golden Globes, "HFPA members attend more than 300 interviews and countless movie and television screenings throughout each year." Fraser also wondered if the HFPA had blacklisted him. Brendan Fraser attends AOL Build to discuss his role in 'The Affair' at AOL HQ on Dec. 14, 2016 in New York City. 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." Soria died Friday at his home in Los Angeles, according. I felt like a little kid. Members receive payments for writing for HFPA's website and for working at the annual grants dinner in addition to the payments they receive for serving on the committees. What Ever Happened To Brendan Fraser? | GQ This also isn't the first time that NBC has declined to broadcast the Golden Globes. Brendan Fraser Says Former HFPA President Assaulted Him | Time Have I stopped myself? Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. 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. Lorenzo Soria - Wikipedia Ad Choices. Do I feel like I need to say something? All rights reserved. Eventually, he wasable to remove Berk's hand. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our, Digital Previously on the HFPAs Board of Directors from 2012-19, frequent German TV contributor Hoehne is one of the current board members. He also wrote about the incident in his memoir, according to People, but Berk said he pinched Fraser in jest.. He claims in 2003, he was sexually assaulted by Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk. In recounting this incident to GQ, Fraser stated that "his left hand reaches around, grabs my a** cheek, and one of his fingers touches me And he starts moving it around." Among those efforts, transparency seems to be the major buzzword for now, I hear. 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. "Do I feel like I need to say something? "And he starts moving it around." We want to hear from you! In a new interview with GQ published on Thursday, the Mummy star, 49, claims that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association (the non-profit organization that votes for the Golden Globe awards) president Philip Berk sexually assaulted him in the summer of 2003, while at a luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel an alleged incident Berk disputes. Brendan Fraser Says He Was Groped by Former HFPA President said recently that after being sexually harassed, Meet the Sexual Assault Survivors Attending Trump's State of the Union, Terry Crews Reveals He Was Sexually Assaulted by a "High-Level" Hollywood Executive, What Is Sexual Grooming? But now that PR firms and entertainers are also standing up and voicing their disapproval with the organization, the tide may be turning for the HFPA. president criticizing Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors and likening BLM to a hate group . All rights reserved. "The Whale" star, 53, won't be attending the 2023 Golden Globe Awards next year even if he's nominated for his role in the highly-praised drama. Active members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association vote for the Golden Globe Awards, which means that "the Globes are overseen by an extremely small number of people," considering that in comparison, the Academy Awards are voted on by over 9,000 people. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. 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 felt like a little kid. But the question now is whether or not this is the sound of HFPA's death rattle. Fraser refused to sign off on the joint statement and maintained, "I don't get the joke.". 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.. Have I stopped myself? IE 11 is not supported. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. An email sent Sunday by a former Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. 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.". This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.. Dave Quinn is an Editor for PEOPLE, working across a number of verticals including the Entertainment, Lifestyle and News teams. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. I felt like a little kid. According to Deadline, in 2013, the HFPA settled a suit with its former publicist Michael Russell. Hollywood Might Not Want to Save the Golden Globes I felt ill. The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article, the associated said in an official statement. This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.. Hollywood Foreign Press Association Pledges Action - Vanity Fair The group even adopted the motto, "Unity without discrimination of religion or race," according to Hollywood Foreign Press Association: A History. Brendan Fraser Speaks Out About Being Groped by HFPA President in 2003 "I felt ill. Brendan Fraser accuses HFPA member of groping him in 2003 HFPA/GG will store your name and email address and use them to send the Weekly Globe newsletter. 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. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. 2018 CBS Interactive Inc. All Rights Reserved. Absolutely, he said. Brendan Fraser (left) accused former Hollywood Foreign Press President Philip Berk of groping him in 2003. Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Dies at 68 In a new interview with GQ, The Mummy starreveals he was groped in 2003byPhilip Berk,a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Brendan Fraser is sharing his own Me Too experience and says a 15-year-old assault may have contributed to the derailment of his career. 2023 FOX News Network, LLC. Helen Hoehne will be the next President of the HFPA, it was revealed today. And he starts moving it around. The star of the "The Mummy" trilogy and "George of the Jungle" is speaking out again after he told GQ earlier this year that Philip Berk, the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, groped him at a 2003 luncheon in Beverly Hills. Fraser also shared his belief that he may have been blacklisted by the HFPA after the incident and that his career may have suffered as a result. head of Hollywood Foreign Press . Write to Abigail Abrams at abigail.abrams@time.com. Brendan Fraser Says Lost Superman Role Would've Been 'Faustian Bargain' Anyway: 'I'm Not a One-Trick Pony' From 'Nymphomaniac' to 'Little Ashes': Unsimulated Sex Scenes in 36 Films, I didnt want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative, Fraser said. Up to 100 PR firms also indicated that they were disappointed with the HFPA's lack of commitment to "transformational change. Hollywood Foreign Press Association addresses absence of Black members In the same interview, Fraser claimed that he was sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, a former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, in 2003. "His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. Hollywood Foreign Press Assn. President Lorenzo Soria dies 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 . With a group of 21 other journalists, their hope was to pool their knowledge and "formalize their relationship with the studios" in the hopes of making it easier to work on film journalism. Powered and implemented by FactSet Digital Solutions. Am I still frightened? 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. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. ", In response to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association's inability to come up with effective reforms, both Netflix and Amazon stated that they would be boycotting the 2022 Golden Globe Awards. Out in the cold with the likes of Netflix, Amazon, WarnerMedia and other studios and networks, plus essentially boycotted by top flacks and hence their top-tier clients, the HFPAs new president plans to begin a charm offensive to convince Hollywood stakeholders that things trulyhave changed for the better at the organization. Fraser went home and told his then-wife, Afton Smith,what happened. Is it ever okay to ask a woman especially one who's publicly undergone IVF if she's pregnant? Biography [ edit] Soria was born in Argentina to Italian parents who left the country during World War II. A cause of. However, the network added that "assuming the organization executes on its plan, we are hopeful we will be in a position to air the show in January 2023.". 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. But Fraser said the HFPA refused to share the report. Absolutely. 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. Have I wanted to many, many times? 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. sexually assaulted him in 2003. . Although it's still up in the air whether or not this might be the final nail in the Golden Globes' coffin, some say that the Golden Globes simply aren't worth saving. Now the new president is hoping for a clean slate. President Lorenzo Soria, who oversaw the organization that puts on the annual Golden Globe Awards, has died. Fraser said that at the time, he panicked: "I felt ill. We ask the experts. Hoehne was one of the trio of HFPA leaders who took the stage at the less-than-stellar hybrid Globes on February 28 to address the growing discontent with a pledge of basically trust us. Which few did, to put it mildly. Copyright 2023 CBS Interactive Inc. All rights reserved. Legal Statement. Ex-President of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Jezebel (Reps for Fraser and the HFPA did not immediately respond to PEOPLEs request for comment). 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.". All Rights Reserved. Hollywood Foreign Press Association - Wikipedia The actor says he believes he was blacklisted in Hollywood partly due to the aftermath of the alleged incident. Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock. Brendan Fraser: Golden Globes Org Called My Sexual Assault - HuffPost User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Brendan Fraser is speaking out for the first time about his experience with sexual harassment in Hollywood. the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press . I call them friends in my mind. Helen Hoehne Re-Elected President of HFPA - Variety Fraser revealed the alleged abuse in 2018,. Anne Thompson But there also continues to be genuine bafflement about how things escalated to this point. ", "Am I still frightened? Brendan Fraser became the latest actor to speak out about his own #MeToo experience this week as Hollywood continues to address its problems with sexual assault and harassment. 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. Berkclaims he had written a letter to Fraser about the incident claiming that he had done no wrong. Held in 1944, the first Golden Globes Awards were, according to Vox, an "informal luncheon" at the Beverly Hills Hotel. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. 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. of self-dealing, ethical lapses. Lorenzo Soria has been re-elected president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for the 2016-2017 year. Fraser alleged in an interview with GQ magazine that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk intimately groped him. The Hollywood Foreign Press Association ( HFPA) is a nonprofit organization of journalists [3] and photographers who report on the entertainment industry activity and interests in the United States for media (newspaper, [4] magazine and book publication, television and radio broadcasting) predominantly outside the U.S. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. In 2003 he began researching the business case for climate action for the . I Didn't Start Masturbating Until I Was 30. the first of which spanned from 2003 . Member Judy Soloman claims that this is "because nobody applied," but this is a lie, according to The Wrap, which alleges that a Black journalist's application was rejected in 2013. He believes it's partly why his career derailed, and said: "The phone does stop ringing in your career, and you start asking yourself why. Brendan Fraser promotes 'Trust' after alleging misconduct Between 2002 and 2018, only five Golden Globe Awards had at least one BIPOC acting winner. Brendan Fraser Accuses the Hollywood Foreign Press Association Actress Mira Sorvino, for instance, said recently that after being sexually harassed by disgraced former studio head Harvey Weinstein, she was relegated to "the fringes of the Miramax family"; director Peter Jackson even admitted that he blacklisted both Sorvino and actress Ashley Judd, who also has spoken out about being harassed by Weinstein, after Weinstein gave Jackson "false information" about the two actresses. US Hegemony and Its Perils - : The allegation comes in a current GQ profile of Fraser titled What Ever Happened to Brendan Fraser?. Olivia Newton-John's daughter Chloe reveals 'promise' she made to mother before her death, Emma Stones 'And' co-star Willem Dafoe had her slap him 20 times to get scene right, Prince Harry's 'attacks' on 'villain' Camilla led to Frogmore Cottage eviction: expert, Film industry reacts to death of 'Saving Private Ryan' star Tom Sizemore: 'You're a legend', Matthew McConaughey and Camila Alves take bumpy second flight after 'CHAOS' on Lufthansa plane: 'Wish me luck'. Absolutely. 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.". There's many reasons, but was this one of them? 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. 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. In a new interview with GQ, "The Mummy" star alleges that the HFPA's Philip Berk assaulted him at the Beverly Hills Hotel in the summer of 2003. I thought I was going to cry. In an interview with GQ, Brendan Fraser alleged that Philip Berk, former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), groped him. Market data provided by Factset. 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. What is HFPA? 2021 Golden Globes group has no Black members - Los 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.