Brendan Fraser Opens Up About the Impact of His 2003 Alleged Groping Incident

Brendan Fraser is taking a moment to reflect on how a traumatic experience of alleged s**ual assault affected him in the long run.

In a recent conversation with Lee Cowan for CBS Mornings, the 54-year-old actor discussed his claim that former HFPA President Philip Berk s**ually assaulted him during the summer of 2003.

Although Berk, who is now 89 years old, disputes the allegation.

During the interview, Cowan asked Fraser if the incident had “derailed everything” for him.

Fraser responded by acknowledging the power dynamics at play, saying, “Well, yes, because there's a system in place that is about power.”

He further explained that he had always followed the rules until that point, but when he experienced the violation, he realized that it had gone too far and decided he would no longer tolerate it.

Fraser revealed that the alleged incident had caused him both emotional and personal distress.

The star of “The Mummy” emphasized the impact it had on him during his discussion with Cowan.

According to Fraser, the incident occurred when Berk reached out to shake his hand as they were leaving the Beverly Hills Hotel after attending a luncheon together.

Fraser claimed that Berk's hand went beyond a regular handshake and instead touched him inappropriately.

Fraser initially shared the allegation with GQ magazine in 2018.

Recalling his decision to speak up, Fraser mentioned seeing his friends and colleagues courageously coming forward with their own stories of speaking truth to power.

He felt compelled to add his voice to the conversation.

While Berk did not respond to PEOPLE's request for comment on the alleged incident, he denied the assault ever took place when interviewed by The New York Times.

The Hollywood Foreign Press Association, which oversees the Golden Globe Awards, expelled Berk in April 2021 following an email he sent to fellow members, where he referred to the Black Lives Matter movement as a “racist hate movement” and criticized co-founder Patrisse Cullors for purchasing a home in California.

Fraser recently made headlines when he stated in an interview with GQ that he would not participate in the Golden Globe Awards, even if he received a nomination.

He expressed his lack of respect for the Hollywood Foreign Press Association due to his personal history with the organization.

Fraser remains firm in his decision, stating that he refuses to be a hypocrite.

If you or someone you know has experienced s**ual assault, please reach out to the National s**ual Assault Hotline at 1-800-656-HOPE (4673) or visit rainn.org.

It is important to seek support and assistance in such difficult situations.