Actor Brendan Fraser Says He Was Blackballed After Male Exec Groped Him

Brendan Fraser is the latest actor to come forward with his story of sexual assault in light of the #MeToo and Time’s Up movements.

In a new interview with GQ published on Thursday, the actor alleges that former Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk sexually assaulted him in the summer of 2003, while at a luncheon at the Beverly Hills Hotel. The actor, who is known for his roles in The Mummy, Encino Man, and Airheads, says he believes he was blacklisted since he was rarely invited back to the Golden Globes, which the HFPA runs, after the incident.

"His left hand reaches around, grabs my a** cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint," said Fraser. "And he starts moving it around." The star said he began to panic.

"I felt ill," Fraser said. He told GQ that he removed Berk's hand. "I felt like a little kid. I felt like there was a ball in my throat. I thought I was going to cry."

Fraser remembers when he left the room, he spotted a police officer but couldn’t himself to tell him what occurred moments before. He then went home and told his wife, Afton, what happened.

Berk has admitted to pinching Fraser's butt, however, he denied that the incident went beyond that, stating, “Mr. Fraser's version is a total fabrication."

Fraser decided not to go public with his accusation, but he did demand an apology from the HFPA, which he received. But, Berk claims that the apology was not a confession, telling GQ, "My apology admitted no wrongdoing, the usual 'If I've done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended and I apologize.'"

“Am I still frightened? Absolutely. Do I feel like I need to say something? Absolutely. Have I wanted to many, many times? Absolutely. Have I stopped myself? Absolutely,” Fraser said. “Maybe I am over-reacting in terms of what the instance was. I just know what my truth is.”

In response to Fraser's allegation, the HFPA released an official statement saying it has continued to have a relationship with Fraser after the alleged attack. "The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article," the statement read. "Over the years we've continued a positive working relationship with Brendan, which includes announcing Golden Globes nominees, attending the ceremony and participating in press conferences."

Source: gq.com