James Franco is pulling back the curtain on his rift with Seth Rogen, revealing that their two-decade friendship is officially over. In a recent conversation with Variety, the 46-year-old actor opened up about the challenges and changes he has faced. He has stayed out of the limelight since sexual misconduct allegations in 2018, which changed the course of his career.
As he prepares for his comeback in the Italian film Hey Joe, he discussed his new outlook on work and life, saying he is “grateful to be working” and “proud of the person he is becoming.” Are.
James Franco and Seth Rogen’s friendship is over
Franco, widely recognized for his roles in Pineapple Express, Spider-Man and other films, talked about his friendship with longtime collaborator Seth Rogen. In 2021, after allegations surfaced that Franco forced his film students to perform explicit scenes on camera, Rogen said he had “no plans to work with Franco again”. “No. I haven’t talked to Seth. I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I think it’s over,” Franco told Variety, when asked. Has he spoken with Rogen since then? “And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he means to me,” he said.
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At the time, Rogen, who worked with Franco on The Interview, This Is the End, Sausage Part, Disaster Party and several other films, also said, “I abhor abuse and harassment and would never tolerate anyone doing that.” I would never hide the actions of, or knowingly put anyone in a situation where they were around someone like that,” referring to the claims.
What happened to James Franco?
The Spider-Man star faced serious allegations from several former female acting students who alleged that he took advantage of his celebrity status and his now-closed film school to engage in inappropriate and sexually charged behavior.
The women claimed that Franco used his influence as a teacher and potential employer to pressure them with promises of roles, leaving them feeling intimidated and objectified. Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Tony Cheeks said in a statement of complaint submitted to L.A. County, “By sexually exploiting her power as a teacher and an employer, he sexually abused female students by luring them with the opportunity of roles in his projects.” “Engaged in inappropriate and sexually charged behavior.” According to Fox News.
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Accusing themselves of being victims of fraud, the students say they paid $300 a month for the acting school that Franco founded in 2014 with his business partner Vince Jolivet.
James Franco is ‘grateful’ to work again
“I’m very grateful to be working,” said Franco, who is set to play the American World War II veteran. “I went through a trial, and during that trial I was not working. But then Covid came, so everyone was not working. So, I don’t know, it was all… I mean, we were all involved in it. So it was like, ‘I don’t know what I am.’
Reflecting on his time away from Hollywood, Franco revealed that he used the break to undergo self transformation, changing his mindset and addressing deeper issues. Although his career was going very well at one time, he admits that his relentless desire to work left him unable to savor his successes – whether it was audience praise or award nominations, it was never enough. Put. Now, after undergoing this period of self-reflection, he feels proud of his inner progress, seeing it as the foundation for a more balanced and moving path forward.
“So now, after taking a break and, I guess, changing priorities, I think about what I want to achieve in life [is different],” he continued. “Ultimately, I think I’m grateful because it gave me a chance to do my personal work and really change what I needed to change. So now when I’m working, I can just be there for the project. It’s not about me trying to fill a void with work, it’s just about, ‘Wow, my life is really great.’ I’m very grateful, and I look forward to completing whatever project I do.”
