Hello, and welcome to The Reheat! Each week, I write a column summarizing the highlights of the podcast I co-host with Sadaf Ahsan. Our podcast, also titled The Reheat (what a coincidence!), re-examines the most salacious scandals of yester-year through a contemporary lens. Whether it’s a deep dive into Bennifer’s original love story from the 2000s or a meditation on the time princess Anne was almost kidnapped, we explain why each saga captured our imaginations back in the day. Sadaf and I also ask, would these stories be as scandalous if they happened in 2021? The answers to that question might surprise you!
Whenever we release a new episode, I’ll share some of the juiciest tidbits right here, for Addicted Magazine’s lovely readers. Obviously, we hope these columns tantalize you enough to listen to our podcast. That’s where you’ll learn the fascinating details I don’t share here…
This week’s installment of The Reheat explores the career of Brendan Fraser, the Canadian 90s heartthrob and action hero. Brendan captured our hearts when he donned a loincloth in the cinematic masterpiece, George of The Jungle. But in the late ‘00s, Brendan receded from public life. Why did this superstar hide his light for so long? The answer is complicated.
Let’s discuss the upsetting truth about why Brendan disappeared, and the start of his exciting comeback!
Brendan Fraser Was a Victim of Sexual Assault
While Brendan Fraser all but disappeared from Hollywood circa 2008, his fans didn’t know why. One issue Fraser was suffering from at the time was the trauma of sexual assault. In the summer of 2003, Fraser alleges Philip Berk, then president of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association, sexually assaulted him. In a now iconic 2018 interview, Brendan tells the story in his own words. This interview was integral in raising awareness about male victims of sexual violence. It also showed that anyone – even a ripped movie star – can be abused.
Being an Action Star Took Its Toll On Brendan’s Body
Movie lovers rarely discuss the physical consequences of being an action star. While it’s glamorous to walk red carpets and earn millions of dollars for a single movie, all those stunts take an undeniable toll on actors’ bodies. That physical suffering meant Brendan eventually had no choice but to step away from action movies, the genre that made him a household name.
In 2018, Fraser told People Magazine about his physical condition while shooting the third Mummy movie. Fraser explained he “was put together with tape and ice — just, like, really nerdy and fetishy about ice packs. Screw-cap ice packs and downhill-mountain-biking pads, ’cause they’re small and light and they can fit under your clothes. I was building an exoskeleton for myself daily.” Just reading that quote makes me feel achy all over!
Brendan Is Having a Comeback, And We Hope It Continues!
Brendan Fraser is in the midst of a comeback, or what Sadaf and I refer to as a “rebrendaning” (Yes, it’s a very bad pun that doesn’t quite work, but we like puns, okay?). He will soon appear alongside Josh Brolin and Peter Dinklage in Brothers. Brendan also plays the lead in world-famous director Darren Aronofsky’s upcoming film, The Whale. According to IMDB, The Whale tells the story of “A reclusive English teacher suffering from severe obesity who attempts to reconnect with his estranged teenage daughter for one last chance at redemption.” The plot summary sounds pretty fatphobic, but we’re glad Brendan is getting work.
Will someone please offer this talented performer a fat-positive role next?
Sarah Sahagian
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