The Hollywood Foreign Press Association is to launch a full investigation into Brendan Fraser’s allegation that a former president of the organisation sexually assaulted him.
The 49-year-old actor has claimed he felt "ill" and like he was "going to cry" after Philip Berk apparently touched him inappropriately during a HFPA lunch at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2003.
Although the charitable trust are adamant they were "unaware" of such incident at the time, they will be looking in depth into the reports.
The HFPA said in a statement to Us Weekly magazine: "The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of behavior described in this article. 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."
Brendan claimed in his piece that he didn’t want to speak about the alleged incident "for risk of humiliation, or damage to my career", but he started to feel "depressed".
He recalled: "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. 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. I didn’t want to contend with how that made me feel, or it becoming part of my narrative. I became depressed. I was blaming myself and I was miserable – because I was saying, ‘This is nothing; this guy reached around and he copped a feel.’ That summer wore on – and I can’t remember what I went on to work on next. 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. And maybe I am over-reacting in terms of what the instance was. I just know what my truth is."
Philip – who is still an HFPA member – has acknowledged writing a letter to Brendan about the incident, but "admitted no wrongdoing".
He said: "My apology admitted no wrongdoing, the usual ‘If I’ve done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended and I apologise.’ "
Philip also said in an email: "Mr. Fraser’s version is a total fabrication."
Brendan – who appeared in the likes of ‘The Mummy Returns’ in 2001, and 1997 movie ‘George of the Jungle’ – has since wondered whether the HFPA blacklisted him following the alleged incident, which he says made him "feel reclusive".
He said: "I don’t know if this curried disfavour with the group, with the HFPA. But the silence was deafening."
But Philip insists the HFPA had nothing to do with Brendan’s career "declining".
He said: "His career declined through no fault of ours."
HFPA will launch investigation into Brendan Fraser sex assault claims
