“Actor dodges questions about contentious friendship”
“We shared 20 wonderful years”: James Franco declares the end of his friendship with Seth Rogen following fallout from the #MeToo movement
“I haven’t had any communication with Seth. I care for Seth deeply, we enjoyed 20 remarkable years together, but it seems our time has come to an end. Despite my efforts to salvage our bond, it appears to be irreparable. I have expressed to him the significance of our relationship,” Franco confided to Variety during the interview.
Rogen and Franco, who first crossed paths as teenagers in the glitzy realm of Hollywood, collaborated on numerous iconic projects such as “Freaks and Geeks,” “The Disaster Artist,” “Pineapple Express,” and “This Is The End.” However, the dynamics of their real-life relationship have grown intricate.
James Franco in 2021: ‘I don’t want Seth to speak on my behalf’
In 2021, Franco candidly addressed the allegations of sexual misconduct against him and the dissolution of his friendship with Rogen, who had earlier stated to Britain’s The Sunday Times that he had no intentions of collaborating with his former friend in the future.
The Academy Award nominee reflected on Rogen’s remarks during an interview with host Jess Cagle on SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle Podcast” in December 2021.
“Undoubtedly, his words were hurtful given the circumstances, but I comprehend his stance. He found himself in a position to speak for me because of my silence. I do not wish for anyone, be it Seth Rogen, my brother Dave Franco, or anyone else, to bear the burden of speaking on my behalf any longer,” Franco explained to Cagle during the interview.
During the 2021 interview, Franco also remarked, “Throughout our 20-year companionship, we never had a single disagreement. Not a single one. He was my closest confidant, my most valued collaborator. It is true that we are not currently engaged in any joint projects, and there are no plans for collaboration in the foreseeable future.”
Franco previously engaged in inappropriate communication with a minor via Instagram, sparking controversy
The sequence of incidents that led to the deterioration of their relationship traces back to a decade ago. In 2014, the then 35-year-old Franco found himself in the headlines after he propositioned a 17-year-old girl through Instagram (he later issued an apology).
That same year, both Franco and Rogen joked about the headline-grabbing incident on “Saturday Night Live” during their respective hosting stints.
“I do regret a joke I made on ‘Saturday Night Live’ in 2014. It was a distasteful joke, plain and simple. Furthermore, I reflect on the 2018 interview where I mentioned that I would continue working with James. The truth is, I have not and do not intend to do so at present,” Rogen later expressed.
