Everything James Franco said about being ‘cast out’ from Hollywood during hiatus
The actor has spoken out about his hiatus from Hollywood after accusations of sexual misconduct
James Franco has spent several years in the entertainment wilderness after being frozen out by Hollywood.
In 2018, allegations of sexual misconduct were made against Franco in connection with a school that he ran in Hollywood called Studio 4.
Seeking to distance themselves from Franco following the allegations, the actor was shut out of Hollywood.
This included his long-time co-star and friend Seth Rogen, who cut Franco off after the allegations emerged, including that Franco had slept with students at the school and had set it up as a 'pipeline' for young women to sleep with.
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Franco admitted to sleeping with the students but denied that this was why he had set up the acting school.
The lawsuit filed by two former students was eventually settled in 2021 for $2.23 million (£1.67million).
How life is different after being 'cast out' of Hollywood
Franco has opened up about how life has been since the allegations were brought against him in 2018.
Speaking to Variety about whether he thought it was 'unfair', he said: “I mean, it is what it is. I’ve honestly moved past it. It was dealt with, and I got to change.
“So that’s it, it’s over. I mean, I’ve worked in the US too. So I’m just trying to move on.”
He went on to say that he had taken a 'pause', and now wants different things to 'fulfil him in life'.
Franco said: “Ultimately, I think I’m kind of grateful because it did afford me a chance to just do whatever private work and really change what I need to change.
“So now that I am working, I can just be there for the project. It’s not about me trying to fill some hole with work; it’s just about, ‘Wow, I have a really great life. I’m very grateful, and I hope to serve whatever project I do'.”
Being 'cancelled' impacted his acting career following lawsuit
In the interview with Variety, he opened up about the lawsuit and how he is 'grateful' to be working again now.
"I did go through a lawsuit, and during that lawsuit, I wasn’t working. But then Covid hit, so everybody wasn’t working... it was sort of like, 'I don’t know what I am'," he said.
"But I did certainly use the time for, I hope, a good purpose. And whatever had been going on with me before, I had to change my whole way of life."
Franco added: "So I am proud of the kind of work I did during that time. And yeah, I wasn’t working in movies, but I certainly was doing a lot of work to change who I was."
Friendship with Seth Rogen is 'over'
Both Franco and Seth Rogen have spoken previously about the end of their friendship.
Initially, Rogen stood by his long-time friend, saying in 2018 that he would work with him again.
But in 2021, Rogen made it clear that he had zero plans to work with Franco again in the future, saying that he 'despises abuse'.
Franco would later respond by saying he was 'hurt', but confirmed what Rogen had said, telling the Jess Cagle Podcast: “What he said is true - we aren't working together right now, and we don't have any plans to work together."
In 2024, when he returned to Hollywood, Franco told Variety: “I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over. And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he’s meant to me.”
LADBible has approached representatives of Franco for comment.
Topics: Celebrity News, James Franco, Celebrity, Film
Kit Roberts