Despite being a Hollywood staple during the late ’90s and early 2000s, The Mummy star Brendan Fraser surprisingly disappeared from the spotlight after 2008. While people speculated drugs, a s*x-scandal, illness, and even a poor career graph as the reason behind his exit, Fraser recently revealed the real reason behind leaving Hollywood.
After years of remaining out of the spotlight, when Brendan Fraser made his comeback with the 2022 Oscar-winning movie The Whale, the actor attributed his Hollywood exit to s*xual harassment. Admitting how it took him the courage to open up about the incident, Fraser claimed to be physically groped by the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, Philip Berk.
Brendan Fraser Left Hollywood After Facing S*xual Assault from Philip Berk
Way before Brendan Fraser won the Best Actor’s award in 2023 for The Whale, the actor was known for his appearance in cult classic movies like The Mummy, George of the Jungle, and even Crash. But surprisingly, despite having an envious career, Fraser suddenly disappeared from major starring roles.
After 2008, Brendan Fraser withdrew himself from his high-profile lifestyle, leaving fans to wonder the reason behind his Hollywood exit. Quite obviously, as his absence started becoming noticeable, netizens began speculating about drug problems, illness, and other scandalous issues as the reason behind his departure.
However, following his return to the spotlight in 2022 with The Whale, Brendan Fraser sat for an interview with GQ, where he revealed the actual reason behind his sudden career shift. Recalling a traumatic incident from the summer of 2003, Fraser admitted to being groped by the former president of the HFPA, Philip Berk.
His left hand reaches around, grabs my a*s cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around.
Am I still frightened? Absolutely… 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.
Admitting how it took him the courage to speak out about the incident, Brendan Fraser mentioned feeling violated and cornered in the industry. Therefore, following the traumatic experience that had a significant impact on his psychology, the actor revealed quitting Hollywood for his peace of mind.
Philip Berk Denied Allegations and Claimed to Have Apologized to Brendan Fraser
Meanwhile, prior to Brendan Fraser’s interview with GQ, former HFPA president Philip Berk had previously recounted this incident in his memoir, which was later reported by Sharon Waxman in The New York Times. However, as per Berk’s side of the story, the HFPA president had actually tried shaking Fraser’s hand, but instead ended up pinching the actor’s a*s—in jest.
Therefore, following Brendan Fraser’s interview, Philip Berk denied the accusations and called the actor’s story a “fabrication” of the whole narrative. But considering the emotional trauma that Fraser faced, Berk acknowledged writing a letter to him. Later on, HFPA also took immediate action and promised that it would never allow Berk in a room with Fraser again.
Berk’s apology:
My apology admitted no wrongdoing, the usual ‘If I’ve done anything that upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intended and I apologize.’
However, despite the actions taken by HFPA, Brendan Fraser mentioned slipping into depression, feeling miserable, and blaming himself for the situation. Thereafter, although he pushed himself to forget the past and focus on his work, the actor mentioned going from a highly visible public figure to practically disappearing in the public mind.
Thankfully, taking his time off and focusing on growth and well-being, Brendan Fraser returned stronger than ever. Now, he has become a vocal advocate for s*xual assault against men and even earned public support from actor Terry Crews, who previously experienced a similar incident.
