Brendan Fraser On The HFPA’s Lack Of Response To Sexual Assault Allegations: ‘I Knew They Would Shut Ranks’

Brendan Fraser remains to be ready for accountability.

The star of “The Whale” is on the brand new cowl of GQ, and within the challenge, the Canadian-American actor opens up about his return to the highlight after sharing his personal expertise of sexual misconduct.

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In 2018, amid the #MeToo motion, Fraser accused Philip Berk, then-president of the Hollywood International Press Affiliation, of sexually assaulting him.

Following an obvious inquiry by the HFPA, the actor refused to signal a joint assertion studying, “Though it was concluded that Mr. Berk inappropriately touched Mr. Fraser, the proof helps that it was supposed to be taken as a joke and never as a sexual advance.”

Berk stayed with the HFPA as a voting member, and confronted no disciplinary motion, although he was ultimately ousted in 2021 after he shared an article calling Black Lives Matter a “racist hate motion” in an e-mail to members.

“I knew they might shut ranks,” Fraser says of the group’s lack of response to his allegations. “I knew they might kick the can down the street. I knew they might get forward of the story. I knew that I actually had no future with that system because it was.”

Final yr, networks refused to air the HFPA’s awards present, the Golden Globes, attributable to controversies surrounding the group, however this yr NBC introduced they are going to be broadcasting the present once more.

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Fraser, who is taken into account a Finest Actor frontrunner for his efficiency in “The Whale”, says he doesn’t plan to attend the ceremony if nominated.

“I’ve extra historical past with the Hollywood International Press Affiliation than I’ve respect for the Hollywood International Press Affiliation,” he explains. “No, I cannot take part.”

Now, a number of years after coming ahead together with his allegations, Fraser is requested whether or not talking publicly has modified his relationship to the incident.

“Yeah, it did,” Fraser says. “That doesn’t imply I don’t get triggered from time to time, however then I come hang around again right here,” gesturing to his yard.

As for his efficiency in “The Whale, the actor says, “I don’t know if that is gonna give me some massive redemption in my very own life. I do know that I’m happy with the work that I did, and it’s sufficient. It’ll dwell on lengthy after me. And that’s good. The opposite stuff, perhaps not a lot. That’ll dwell on too, however… I feel I simply should dwell for what’s occurring for me now.”