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Philip Berk

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Philip Berk
Born (1933-02-13) February 13, 1933 (age 91)
Cape Town, South Africa
EducationUCLA School of Theater, Film and Television
Occupation(s)Journalist, film industry executive, film critic
Years active1955–2021
SpouseRuth Greenberg (m. 1954)
Children4

Philip W. Berk (born February 13, 1933) is an American former film industry executive, journalist, and film critic.[1][2][3] Berk served for eight years as president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association and served as an influential member of the organization for several decades, during which time he was the subject of numerous controversies, including being accused of sexual assault and racism.[4][5][6][7][8]

Early life and family

Philip Woolf Berk was born to a Jewish family on February 13, 1933, in Cape Town, South Africa.[9]

In 1955, Berk graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles School of Theater, Film and Television with a Bachelor of Arts degree.[10] In 1954, Berk married Ruth Greenberg, and they have four children.

Career

Berk worked as a journalist and produced international events as a freelancer. He worked as a writer for publications in Malaysia and South Africa, and was the film critic of the B'nai B'rith Messenger, a Jewish newspaper. In the 1990s, Berk served as secretary of the Los Angeles Film Critics Association.[2]

Berk was a member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association for 44 years and served terms as the organization's president and treasurer.[9][1]

Controversies

Memoir

In 2014, Berk angered members of the Hollywood Foreign Press after he published a memoir titled With Signs and Wonders - My Journey from Darkest Africa to the Bright Lights of Hollywood, which detailed the inner workings of the organization and told stories of some of his colleagues. After the book was published, Berk took a six-month leave of absence from the organization.[5]

Brendan Fraser sexual assault accusation

In 2018, actor Brendan Fraser accused Berk of groping his genitals after a luncheon in 2003.[11][7][12] The Hollywood Foreign Press Association commissioned an internal investigation, which concluded that while "Berk inappropriately touched Mr. Fraser, the evidence supports that it was intended to be taken as a joke and not as a sexual advance.”[13] Officials asked Fraser to sign a joint statement about the matter but would not share the complete findings with him.[6] Several publications and social media users interpreted that Fraser was blacklisted from Hollywood because of his accusation against Berk, which Berk denied.[14][15][16] After returning to acting in The Whale in 2022, Fraser declined to attend the 2023 Golden Globe Awards ceremony due to a lack of reconciliation or apology regarding his assault accusations.[17][13] Berk has described Fraser's account as a "total fabrication"; in his 2014 memoir, he admitted to having groped Fraser "in jest".[18][19][20]

Email and expulsion

In 2021, the board of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association permanently expelled Berk as a member of the organization after he sent an email to other members where he quoted an article that described Black Lives Matter as a "racist hate movement" and referred to Patrisse Cullors as a "self-proclaimed trained Marxist."[5] After Berk sent the email, NBC called for Berk's immediate expulsion from the organization to move forward with the Golden Globes. After Berk's removal from the organization, the board stated that it "condemn[ed] all forms of racism, discrimination and hate speech and finds such language and content unacceptable."[5]

References

  1. ^ a b Crouse, Richard (October 22, 2005). Reel Winners: Movie Award Trivia. Dundurn. ISBN 978-1-77070-199-1.
  2. ^ a b Roberts, Jerry (February 19, 2010). The Complete History of American Film Criticism. Santa Monica Press. ISBN 978-1-59580-922-3.
  3. ^ Hess, Stephen (January 17, 2006). Through Their Eyes: Foreign Correspondents in the United States. Brookings Institution Press. ISBN 978-0-8157-3582-3.
  4. ^ Kilday, Bryan Alexander (January 17, 2011). "EXCLUSIVE: Top Golden Globes Exec Says Ricky Gervais 'Definitely Crossed the Line'". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c d Schneider, Michael (April 20, 2021). "Embattled HFPA Expels Phil Berk as a Member Following Racist Email". Variety. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  6. ^ a b Baron, Zach. "UPDATED: Brendan Fraser Says the HFPA Denied His Claims of Sexual Harassment". GQ. Retrieved May 10, 2021.
  7. ^ a b Vojtech, Jim; Messer, Lesley (February 22, 2018). "Brendan Fraser says he has his own #MeToo story". ABC News. Retrieved May 27, 2018.
  8. ^ Mundy, Robert; Denny, Harry (October 2, 2019). Gender, Sexuality, and the Cultural Politics of Men's Identity: Literacies of Masculinity. Routledge. ISBN 978-0-429-53572-7.
  9. ^ a b Feinberg, Scott (April 20, 2021). "Philip Berk, Longtime HFPA Member, Expelled for Racist Email". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  10. ^ "Who is Philip Berk? Brendan Fraser to boycott Golden Globes as HFPA ignored his molestation by ex-president". MEAWW. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  11. ^ Baron, Zach (February 22, 2018). "What Ever Happened To Brendan Fraser?". GQ. Retrieved February 22, 2018.
  12. ^ Alexander, Jeffrey C. (November 1, 2019). What Makes a Social Crisis?: The Societalization of Social Problems. John Wiley & Sons. ISBN 978-1-5095-3826-3.
  13. ^ a b Kreps, Daniel (November 16, 2022). "Brendan Fraser Won't Attend Golden Globes if He's Nominated for 'The Whale': I'm Not a 'Hypocrite'". Rolling Stone. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  14. ^ Spence, Niamh (July 27, 2022). "The Reason Why Brendan Fraser Was 'Blacklisted' From Hollywood For Years". LAD Bible. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  15. ^ Juneau, Jen (November 16, 2022). "Brendan Fraser Won't Attend Golden Globes After Sexual Assault Allegations Against Former HFPA President". People. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  16. ^ "Brendan Fraser on 'Doom Patrol' Role & If He Felt Blacklisted After Sexual Assault Claims". Sway in the Morning. April 18, 2019. Retrieved September 10, 2022.
  17. ^ Saha, Joy (November 16, 2022). "Brendan Fraser stands his Me Too ground and refuses to attend Golden Globes, even if he's nominated". Salon. Retrieved November 16, 2022.
  18. ^ Russian, Ale (April 20, 2021). "Golden Globes Voter Philip Berk, Previously Accused of Groping Brendan Fraser, Expelled by HFPA for Racist Email". People. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  19. ^ Quinn, Dave (February 22, 2018). "Brendan Fraser Says Former HFPA President Sexually Assaulted Him and Derailed His Career". People. Retrieved January 24, 2023.
  20. ^ Carroll, E. Jean (July 2, 2019). What Do We Need Men For?: A Modest Proposal. St. Martin's Publishing Group. ISBN 978-1-250-21544-4.
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