Why won’t Brendan Fraser attend the 2023 Golden Globes ceremony?
Despite being nominated and being a strong contender, actor Brendan Fraser will not attend the 2023 Golden Globes. We explain the reason for his absence
After several years out of the industry, in 2022, actor Brendan Fraser, known for his performances in films such as ‘George of the Jungle’ and the ‘The Mummy’ trilogy, returned triumphantly, starring in ‘The Whale,’ in which he plays a gay teacher struggling to reconnect with his daughter.
Thanks to his performance, Fraser was nominated for Best Performance by an Actor in a Drama Movie at the 2023 Golden Globes, which will be held on Tuesday, January 10. However, the acclaimed actor will not attend the ceremony, and we will tell you why.
The reason why Brendan Fraser will not attend the Golden Globes 2023
Before the Golden Globes nominations were announced, the actor said for the cover story of the November issue of GQ that he had no intention of participating if recognized.
In the interview, Fraser said he has “more history with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than I have respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.” “No, I will not participate,” he added.
Defending his position, Fraser said, “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.”
As for Fraser’s history with the HFPA, in 2018 the actor alleged that Philip Berk, a former HFPA president and member of the group, touched him without his consent in 2003. Berk has denied the allegation.
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The HFPA subsequently issued a statement strongly opposing sexual harassment and the “type of behavior described in this article.” Fraser said the HFPA told him they would investigate; however, he was offered a joint statement which the plaintiff refused to sign, which read: “Although it was concluded that Mr. Berk inappropriately touched Mr. Fraser, the evidence supports that it was intended to be taken as a joke and not as a sexual advance.”
This has not been the only controversy that the HFPA has faced in recent years. In 2022, the organization was met with a boycott by the entertainment industry after the Los Angeles Times published an exposé indicating that there were no black members among the HFPA’s 87 voters. That year, the awards were not broadcast. However, after some organizational changes, NBC decided to broadcast the ceremony this year.