Former HFPA President Shares Email Calling Black Lives Matter a "Hate Movement"

Phil Berk served eight terms as the president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. They were years mired in controversy, not the least of which was his alleged sexual harassment of Brendan Fraser. 

Now, he's in hot water again. 

He sent an email to HFPA members on Sunday which contains inflammatory remarks about Black Lives Matter co-founder Patrisse Cullors and likens BLM to a hate group. The crux of the email focuses on Cullors buying a home in the Hollywood Hills. 

Berk shared an article called “BLM Goes Hollywood'' in the email. The article is on Frontpage Mag, part of the David Horowitz Freedom Center website, which shares conservative views.

Part of the original article reads: "The house is down the road from one of the homes involved in the Manson murders, which seems only appropriate since Manson wanted to start a race war. And Black Lives Matter is carrying on Manson's work."

The original article calls BLM a “racist hate movement” and describes Cullors as “an amateur Marxist.”

The forwarded article was sent out to the association’s members, staff, and the group’s general counsel and chief operating officer, Gregory Goeckner.

This email was met with horror and anger from many members, who were very upset at Berk's words. They asked to be removed from the thread or called Berk out on his inflammatory remarks. But Berk fired back at them in exchanges you can read in the Los Angeles Times. 

The HFPA has been in trouble for having no Black members and lacking diversity overall. This email is coming out amidst their attempts to rectify that and adds more pressure and controversy to the situation. 

Berk is 88 years old and represents what the HFPA hopes is the past of their organization. But they have not been great at rehabbing their perception for the moment or toward the future.

In a statement, the HFPA said: “Since its inception, the HFPA has dedicated itself to bridging cultural connections and creating further understanding of different backgrounds through film and TV. The views expressed in the article circulated by Mr. Berk are those of the author of the article and do not—in any way shape or form—reflect the views and values of the HFPA. The HFPA condemns all forms of racism, discrimination, and hate speech and finds such language and content unacceptable.”

Let us know what you think in the comments. 

Source: The Los Angeles Times