You might remember Brendan Fraser as the strong jungle-man in George of the Jungle, the adventurous Rick O’Connell in The Mummy or most recently as John Gunther, the intense prison guard in The Affair.
While his work clearly speaks for itself (I mean, the man is ICONIC), Fraser has been out of the spotlight for a little while. So where did he go?
In a recent interview with GQ, Fraser let us into his world. Now, Fraser lives in the woods and is working on his latest project Trust. He highlighted major aspects of his life throughout the interview — his children, his horse, his hobbies — but he also spoke out about sexual assault.
Fraser has joined the ranks of many respected actors and actresses who have spoken out through the #MeToo movement, detailing his experience with Philip Berk, former president and active member of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. According to Fraser, Berk assaulted him at a HFPA luncheon in 2003. He said, “His left hand reaches around, grabs my ass cheek, and one of his fingers touches me in the taint. And he starts moving it around.” Fraser recounts that he has yet to receive a remorseful apology from Berk or the HFPA.
Fraser’s added account to this reckoning of assaulters is a brave step, and an important moment in recognizing the effects of sexual assault on one’s career and overall personal life. He said, “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.” Afterwards, Fraser says he retracted from public life, getting less work and exiting the spotlight.
Among the likes of Terry Crews, James Van Der Beek and other men, Fraser raises awareness that this could happen to anyone, regardless of gender, through this interview. As this reckoning continues, the victims of assault such as Fraser know the severity of their claims and the necessity of sharing their stories.
“Am I still frightened? Absolutely. Do I feel like I need to say something? Absolutely. Have I wanted to many, many times? Absolutely. Have I stopped myself? Absolutely.”