Corrupt Hollywood: Ousted Brendan Fraser Takes Home Academy Award

Brendan Fraser, the actor famous for his roles in “The Mummy” and “Encino Man,” recently won his first Academy Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role for the movie “The Whale.” However, according to a tweet by visual effects artist Dave Rand, Fraser had already proven himself to be a “righteous dude” before winning the award.

In 2007, Rand was the FX lead on “Journey to the Center of the Earth” for Meteor Studios in Montreal. When the studio declared bankruptcy and failed to pay the visual effects team $1.3 million for three weeks of work, Fraser stepped up to help. Rand attempted to get the story out to the press but was met with resistance and believed that the studio had pressured them to bury the story.

During a GQ interview in 2018, Brendan Fraser disclosed that he had been sexually assaulted by Philip Berk, the previous president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. Fraser recounted that Berk had approached him at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2003 and touched him inappropriately.

Following the allegation, many of his fans believed that Fraser was unjustly removed from Hollywood. However, his supporters used Tik Tok to document his unfair treatment and expressed their support:

Rand, a visual effects artist who worked on the movie produced and starred by Fraser, was left unpaid along with his team. After unsuccessful attempts to collect their payment, Rand turned to social media and tweeted about the situation. The tweet went viral and caught the attention of Fraser, who was not aware of the unpaid team.

Fraser reached out to Rand to find out what was happening and assured him that he would take action. Fraser’s representative issued a statement stating that the actor was investigating the matter and considered the situation to be “awful.” This public stance by Fraser helped to bring attention to the issue, and his fans also helped to amplify the message.

Eventually, the visual effects team received 80% of their pay almost two years after the film’s release. Rand expressed his gratitude towards Fraser, calling him a “righteous dude” who had given them wings when they had none.

Fraser’s actions demonstrate the importance of speaking up for what is right and using one’s platform to help others. Despite being a successful actor, Fraser did not hesitate to get involved and help those who had been wronged. This incident also highlights the power of social media and how it can be used to bring attention to injustices.

Alexander J. Williams III