Did Brendan Fraser's protest of the Golden Globes cause him to lose?

Beverly Hills, California - Actor Brendan Fraser decided to protest the 80th Golden Globes by not attending, but the rebellious move may have cost him an award for his recent film The Whale.

Actor Brendan Fraser refused to attend the 2023 Golden Globes following an alleged groping incident, and the move may have lost him the award for Best Actor.
Actor Brendan Fraser refused to attend the 2023 Golden Globes following an alleged groping incident, and the move may have lost him the award for Best Actor.  © IMAGO / Everett Collection

The star was up for the Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture award for his highly-praised role in the Darren Aronofsky film at Tuesday night's awards show, but it was ultimately given to Austin Butler for his role in the recent Elvis movie.

Fraser has claimed that in 2003, Philip Berk, president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association (HFPA) at the time, groped him.

The organization, which puts on the award show, conducted an investigation, concluding that while Berk did "inappropriately" touch the star, "it was intended to be taken as a joke and not as a sexual advance."

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Fraser allegedly never received any kind of apology from the HFPA for the incident, and has shared that it caused him to be blacklisted from Hollywood for many years.

In November, Fraser revealed that he had no intentions of attending the Golden Globes in the future.

"I have more history with the Hollywood Foreign Press Association than I have respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association," Fraser explained, adding, "No, I will not participate."

The Golden Globes has had a tarnished reputation in recent years

Austin Butler took home the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture, where he was up against Brendan Fraser, who did not attend.
Austin Butler took home the Golden Globe award for Best Actor in a Drama Motion Picture, where he was up against Brendan Fraser, who did not attend.  © Frederic J. BROWN / AFP

The Golden Globes has been under fire for a handful of scandals and controversies in recent years, and aimed to use the award show and its broadcast to rehab their image.

The voting body for the award show came under heavy criticism for its lack of racial diversity, and in 2022, television network NBC decided not to air the show, instead announcing winners on social media.

Former president of the HFPA Philip Berk was also fired from the organization in 2021 for controversial remarks he made about the Black Lives Matter movement.

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Butler, who received the award instead of Fraser, shared during his acceptance speech, "I want to also say to my fellow nominees: you have turned in the most beautiful, profound work, and I am so honored and proud to be listed among you."

Fraser is a noticeable standout.

Cover photo: Collage: FREDERIC J. BROWN / AFP & IMAGO / Everett Collection

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