After Hollywood actor Brendan Fraser accused Philip Berk of harassing him, Berk, a former reporter for the HFPA, began to get a bad rap from the media.
He alleged that a former head of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA), the organization responsible for sponsoring the Golden Globes, sexually touched her in 2003. The HFPA is the organization responsible for presenting the Golden Globes.
Brendan claims the HFPA has refuted his allegations involving improper actions. In an article published in GQ earlier this year, Fraser claimed that Philip, then president of the HFPA, groped him in 2003.
Additionally, Fraser said the organization was secretly conducting an internal investigation while trying to excuse Berk’s behavior by claiming it was “just a joke.” However, he wasn’t happy about it.
Who exactly is this Philip Berk? Wikipedia bio
Philip Berk is a former reporter with the HFPA. He was born on February 13, 1933 in Cape Town, South Africa into a middle class South African family. He’s getting old and is almost 86.
The UCLA School of Theatre, Film, and Television awarded him a diploma after graduating there. In addition, he was a past president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA). Berk has been a member of the organization for the past 44 years and has served as President on eight separate occasions.
Similarly, Berk has a net worth of approximately $8.5 million in US currency.
Fraser claimed that one of the main reasons he withdrew from the public eye was that he should have met with Berk. In a statement issued to Us Weekly at the time, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) said, “The HFPA remains strong against harassment and the type of behavior depicted in this article.”
A strong professional association with Brendan has been maintained over the years, including announcing the Golden Globe nominees, attending the event, and attending press conferences.
Philip Berk, a former HFPA reporter, was kicked out of the organization after the Brendan Fraser case
Philip Berk was kicked out of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, the organization responsible for organizing the Golden Globe Awards. The journalist was accused of sending offensive and discriminatory emails to Hollywood-based actor Brendan Fraser.
In addition, Philip berated Patrisse Cullors, a co-founder of the Black Lives Matter movement, for purchasing a home in California’s Topanga Canyon. He had been a member of the HFPA for more than forty years until 2022, when he was fired from his position for making insensitive comments based on the color of his skin.
The Hollywood Reporter has released a statement from the board of directors of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, stating that “effective immediately, Phil Berk is no longer a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association.”
The Los Angeles Times obtained a copy of the email chain and explained that Berk received a lot of criticism from his colleagues for his email on Sunday. The criticism was directed at Berk’s decision to send the email on Sunday. Berk was informed by the HFPA’s COO that his behavior was “inappropriate,” and one of the organization’s members called the email Berk sent “disgusting” and “a roaring disgrace.”
Berk explained in his response that he just wanted to illustrate the hypocrisy that exists all around us. He sent it with no ulterior motive and just wanted to make sure everything was clear. However, he feels guilty for making that decision.
Philip Berk wife and family
Alexander Berk, Melanie Berk, Ann Berk and Benjamin Berk are the couple’s four children. Philip Berk and his wife Ruth Greenberg have been married for more than a year and have been blessed with four children.
They took vows on June 20, 1954 and have been living together as husband and wife for well over three decades. Berk doesn’t seem to be very active on any social media platforms, which is one of the reasons there is a lack of personal information about him. There is not much information about the journalist’s personal life, although he is a journalist.
It seems that all of his children have grown up and are now living independent lives in their own unique ways. Philip has not provided any additional information about his sons or grandchildren.
Brendan Fraser personal life
After moving to Los Angeles, Fraser met fellow actress Afton Smith on July 4, 1993, during a cookout hosted by Winona Ryder at her home. They tied the knot on September 27, 1998 and have since been blessed with three sons: Griffin Arthur Fraser, Holden Fletcher Fraser and Leland Francis Fraser (born 2006). After selling their Beverly Hills, California home for $3 million in April 2007, Fraser’s publicist announced in December 2007 that the couple had decided to end their marriage and divorce. In addition to the $25,000 he was required to pay child support each month, the court ordered Fraser to pay child support at a rate of $50,000 a month for a period of 10 years or until they remarried, as the case may be , whichever comes first. These payments were scheduled to end in January 2019. In early 2013, Fraser filed a motion with the court to reduce the alimony and child support payments he owed. He stated he was unable to meet the $900,000 annual need and Smith accused Fraser of hiding financial assets. As of February 2018, Fraser lives in Bedford, New York.
In addition to being able to communicate in French, Fraser is a board member of FilmAid International. A seasoned amateur photographer, he has used a variety of instant cameras in films and television shows, most notably during his guest starring roles on the series Scrubs. In his first appearance, he used Polaroid pack film; On his second visit, he used a Holga modified with a Polaroid back cover, a model exclusive to Japan. Fraser is credited in the book Collector’s Guide to Instant Cameras, which he co-wrote. He is also an amateur archer extraordinaire and has contributed his skills to the Texas Rising series on the History Channel.
The physical demands of the stunts and moves Fraser performed in his action and comedy roles eventually led him to endure many surgeries over the course of seven years. These procedures included a partial knee replacement, a laminectomy, and surgery on his vocal cords. Additionally, he suffered a serious back injury while removing a fallen tree after Hurricane Sandy (2012), requiring both surgery and rehabilitation.
At a luncheon in the summer of 2003, Fraser claims he was sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, then president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. These allegations were made in 2018. Due to the assault, his subsequent divorce, and the death of his mother, Fraser fell into a deep depression which, coupled with his ongoing health problems, caused him to temporarily put aside his professional endeavors. Because Fraser spoke out about the sexual assault, many people, including magazines and social media users, believed she had been “blacklisted” by Hollywood. On the other hand, Fraser stated that he would not use the phrase and that he was unsure whether or not the incident was responsible for the decline in his career. In an interview he gave on Sway in the Morning radio show in 2019, Fraser stated, “I don’t think the HFPA really has that much authority. That wasn’t an official, that was a former president of this organization, which is essentially made up of journalists.”
About Philip Berk
The Hollywood Foreign Press Association said in February 2018 it was investigating allegations by actor Brendan Fraser that former HFPA President Philip Berk sexually abused him. In a GQ interview, the Mummy star claimed Berk molested him in the summer of 2003. Fraser claimed that one of the reasons he left the spotlight was his alleged meeting with Berk. The HFPA issued a statement to Us Weekly at the time, which said, “The HFPA stands firmly against sexual harassment and the type of conduct depicted in this article.” We have maintained a good working relationship with Brendan over the years , and that included announcing the Golden Globe nominees, attending the ceremony, and attending press conferences. Berk dismissed Fraser’s claims, saying, “This report allegedly contains material previously unknown to the HFPA and at this time we are investigating additional details related to the incident.” “Mr. Fraser’s story, according to Berk, who was with GQ spoke, a complete lie. My apology was the standard: “If I have done anything to upset Mr. Fraser, it was not intentional and I apologize for it,” acknowledging no wrongdoing.