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Brendan Fraser's fans have been excited to see his return to Hollywood with his role in Darren Aronofsky’s The Whale. While the film had mixed responses, fan's view of Fraser is overwhelmingly positive.
The movie features Fraser as an obese and reclusive gay English teacher who tries to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.
However, Fraser's return to Hollywood does not mean the beloved actor has forgiven the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) for how they handled his sexual assault allegations against former HFPA President Philip Berk or for the role Berk played in blacklisting him.
Fraser's allegations joined numerous others against Berk and the HFPA.
\u201cBrendan Fraser will not be attending the 2023 Golden Globes for his performance in The Whale after being sexually assaulted by the former president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association 20 years ago.\n\nHis exact words were "my mother didn't raise a hypocrite." \ud83d\udc51\u201d— Fifty Shades of Whey (@Fifty Shades of Whey) 1668621872
\u201c@davenewworld_2 HFPA are racist sexist trash, as well as harborers of predators. I wish everybody would boycott the Globes like Fraser.\u201d— Fifty Shades of Whey (@Fifty Shades of Whey) 1668621872
When asked if he would attend the Golden Globes if he were nominated for best actor for his role in The Whale, Fraser told Entertainment Weekly:
“I have more history with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than I have respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association..."
"No, I will not participate.”
He went on to add:
"My mother didn’t raise a hypocrite."
"You can call me a lot of things, but not that.”
For those who haven't followed Fraser's career, he was extremely popular in the 1990s and early 2000s.
He generated an incredibly loyal fan base during his early time in the spotlight, being well known as a heartthrob and leading man.
He is well known for his roles in The Mummy, George of The Jungle, Blast From The Past and Bedazzled.
\u201cBrendan Fraser Says He Will Not Attend The Golden Globes If He's Nominated\u201d— Melissa Knowles (@Melissa Knowles) 1668690754
But in the mid 2000's he seemed to drop off the movie scene, no longer appearing in films.
It wasn't clear why he left Hollywood until 2018 when he told the world he was sexually assaulted at a party by former Hollywood Foreign Press Association President Philip Berk.
\u201cThe vile man who assaulted Brendan Fraser in 2003 and blacklisted him off getting roles was the former President of HFPA, Philip Berk.\n\nGolden Globes are HFPA (hollywood foreign press association), HFPA denied his sexual harassment claim back then to protect the president.\u201d— MoviesThatMaher (@MoviesThatMaher) 1668610817
Berk allegedly groped Fraser at a party and when Fraser rejected Berk's advances he was blacklisted and found himself unable to land any roles in Hollywood. This caused him to suffer in silence until he came out about the sexual assault in 2018.
The HFPA is the organization awards the Golden Globes.
When asked why he wouldn't attend the Golden Globes, Fraser stated:
"It’s because of the history that I have with them."
Fraser may have left Hollywood, but his fans never left him.
They continued to watch his films and hope one day he would return to Hollywood.
So when he announced he would be coming back with his role in The Whale, Fraser fans were beyond thrilled.
\u201cDon\u2019t know what you\u2019re all talking about with a Brendan Fraser \u201ccomeback\u201d. We\u2019ve all been watching The Mummy twice a year since 99. The king never left.\u201d— kevin krout *is still awake* (@kevin krout *is still awake*) 1662318686
\u201c@kmkrout every. single. time. it. comes. on. #TheMummy\u201d— kevin krout *is still awake* (@kevin krout *is still awake*) 1662318686
It was no surprise to his fans when Fraser announced he wouldn't be attending the Golden Globes.
They took to Twitter to rally behind him.
They have also not forgotten how he was treated and are not willing to let the HFPA forget either.
\u201cEspecially when the Golden Globes have refused to apologize at all, Brendan Fraser is right!\u201d— Jerome! (@Jerome!) 1668610389
\u201c@DiscussingFilm I stand in Solidarity with Brendan, I also will not be attending the Golden Globes\u201d— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) 1668610393
\u201c@DiscussingFilm king move\u201d— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) 1668610393
\u201c@DiscussingFilm @ThroughtheMirr9 damn it, I love Brendan Frasier\u201d— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) 1668610393
\u201c@DiscussingFilm Good on him!!! He deserves all the awards, but mostly he deserves justice for what happened to him. Happy to not support the Golden Globes if it means standing on his side.\u201d— DiscussingFilm (@DiscussingFilm) 1668610393
Fraser fans are overjoyed to have him back in the spotlight.
Whether he is nominated for awards or not, it is clear his fans will continue to advocate for him, watch his films and hold him in their hearts for years to come.