After a heart-tuggingly sad interview with Brendan Fraser was published this week, in which the Gods & Monsters star opened up about a sexual assault he endured at the hands of former Hollywood Foreign Press Association president Philip Berk, the HFPA has agreed to investigate the allegations.
“The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article,” an official statement from the HFPA to Us Weekly reads. “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. This report includes alleged information that the HFPA was previously unaware of and at this time we are investigating further details surrounding the incident.”
The incident is largely what led Fraser to pull away from the limelight in 2003.
He described his trauma to the magazine in detail:
“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 told the publication. “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 felt like someone had thrown invisible paint on me.”
Berk, for what it’s worth (i.e. NOT A LOT) calls the claims made against him “total fabrication.”
“Mr. Fraser’s version is a total fabrication,” Berk said in a statement to GQ. “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.’”
More on the story as it develops. (via US magazine; Photo: MediaPunch)
