Five years have elapsed since James Franco was embroiled in a lawsuit due to allegations of sexual misconduct. The former Hollywood star has recently shared insights into how significantly his life has altered.
Franco was primarily associated with the film industry for his roles in comedies like The Interview, Pineapple Express, and This is the End. In 2011, he also earned an Oscar nomination for his leading performance in 127 Hours.
That chapter of life is over for the 46-year-old, who admits he is trying to ‘move on’.
In several films, he collaborated with Seth Rogen, forming a well-known duo. However, Rogen has since distanced himself.
This separation occurred after Franco was accused of sexual misconduct in 2019. At the time, he described the allegations as ‘not accurate’ but expressed that he did not want to silence those who lacked a voice.
The accusations were made by two former students from Studio 4, Franco’s now-closed acting school, leading to a settlement in which he agreed to pay $2.23 million.
In December 2021, during an appearance on The Jess Cagle Podcast, Franco admitted to being involved with students at his acting school. He acknowledged his actions were ‘wrong’ but insisted there was no premeditated plan behind them.
“Being told you’re bad is painful,” he remarked.
“But ultimately, that’s kind of what I needed to just stop going the way I was going.”
Recently, in a conversation with Variety following the release of his latest movie Hey Joe in Italian theaters, Franco discussed feeling ‘cast out’ of Hollywood.
When questioned about whether he considered his treatment to be ‘unfair’, he responded: “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.”
The actor further explained that he used the time away to ‘pause’, reassess his ‘priorities’, and seek different sources of fulfillment in life.
“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,” Franco continued.
“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’.”
If you’ve been affected by any of the issues discussed in this article, you can reach out to The National Sexual Assault Hotline at 800.656.HOPE (4673), which is available 24/7. Alternatively, you can chat online at online.rainn.org.