Brendan Fraser is taking a stand.
“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.
In an interview with GQ, he noted that he “will not participate” in the awards ceremony run by the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Fraser claimed in 2018 that former HFPA President Philip Berk sexually assaulted him in 2003. Berk, 89, continues to deny the allegations.
Fraser said he became depressed after the alleged incident took place and that he lost respect for the organization.
“I have more history with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than I have respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association,” the “Mummy” alum told the outlet.
Brendan Fraser is making a Hollywood comeback with his movie “The Whale.”Getty Images for BFI“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,” he continued.
In a 2018 GQ profile, Fraser detailed the alleged assault — which he said occurred at a luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel.
“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,” Fraser said at the time.
Brendan Fraser in “The Whale.”© A24 /Courtesy Everett CollectionHe went on: “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.”
“I became depressed,” the “Blast from the Past” actor stated. “I was blaming myself and I was miserable — because I was saying, ‘This is nothing; this guy reached around and he copped a feel.’”
Berk later gave a statement to the magazine, saying: “Mr. Fraser’s version is a total fabrication. My apology admitted no wrongdoing, the usual ‘If I’ve done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was it was not intended and I apologize.’”
Berk remained a voting member of HFPA until 2021 when he was ousted after he sent an email to fellow members describing Black Lives Matter as a “racist hate movement.”
Fraser said he thinks his allegations against Berk didn’t get as much of a response because “it was too prickly or sharp-edged or icky for people to want to go first and invest emotionally in the situation.”
Fraser insists that HFPA never issued him a real apology, so if he’s nominated, he’ll be boycotting the event.
Philip Berk denied allegations he sexually assaulted Brendan Fraser. Rob Latour/Shutterstock“The Whale,” directed by Darren Aronofsky, is lauded as Fraser’s “comeback” into Hollywood. In the film, the Canadian native plays a 600-pound English teacher named Charlie who is struggling to reconnect with his estranged daughter.
The flick premiered at Venice International Film Festival, where the “Bedazzled” actor broke down in tears during a six-minute standing ovation for his role.
He also got emotional during another standing ovation at the BFI London Film Festival.
“The Whale” premieres on Dec. 9.
