ladbible logo

To make sure you never miss out on your favourite NEW stories, we're happy to send you some reminders

Click 'OK' then 'Allow' to enable notifications

James Franco Says He Was Battling Sex Addiction For 20 Years

James Franco Says He Was Battling Sex Addiction For 20 Years

Speaking on SiriusXM the actor said he was suffering from sex addiction for 20 years

In the first sit-down interview in almost four years, James Franco says that was battling sex addiction for over 20 years.

The actor featured on SiriusXM's The Jess Cagle Podcast after admitting he was 'completely blind to people's feelings'.

He said: "I [was] completely blind to power dynamics or anything like that.

"I didn’t wanna hurt people."

SiriusXM

The 43-year-old said that the addiction was a contribution factor on why he 'could never be faithful to anybody' until he met his girlfriend, Isabel.

"I cheated on everyone before Isabel," he confessed.

The actor, who gave up drinking at the age of sixteen due to alcohol abuse, says that an alcohol abuse sponsor once encouraged him to remain single and 'just hook up'.

Franco explained: "And I, in fact, I wasn’t like really a one-night-stand guy.

"Like people that I, you know, got together with or dated, like I’d see them for a long time, years.

"It’s just that I couldn’t be present for any of them.

"And the behaviour spun out to a point where it was like I was hurting everybody."

The Spider-Man actor said that his sex addiction was 'such a powerful drug' and he 'got hooked on it for 20 more years'.

SiriusXM

He says that the turning point came when his sister-in-law Iris Torres gave him a book on sex and love addiction.

Franco believes that the person portrayed in the book was him and that realisation hit him 'like a bullet'.

"Oh my God, that's me," he added.

He spoke on many things during the interview and also said he still loves Seth Rogen after the actor said he had ‘no plans’ to work with him in the future. 

Franco and Rogen worked together on a number of projects over the years, including Pineapple Express and Sausage Party, but following allegations of sexual misconduct made against Franco, Rogen distanced himself from his former co-star.

Rogen and Franco in Pineapple Express.
Sony

In 2019, actors Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal filed a lawsuit alleging Franco had intimated acting school students into exploitative sexual situations, a deal was reached in February this year - under which Tither-Kaplan and Gaal agreed to drop their claims.

In an interview back in May, Rogen said he had ‘no plans’ to work with Franco and said the 'dynamic' of their relationship had changed.

Now, Franco has responded, saying he still has love for Rogen and that he ‘gets’ why he said what he did. 

Featured Image Credit: SiriusXM

Topics: Celebrity