Once celebrated as one of comedy’s greatest bromances, James Franco has now confirmed that his friendship with Seth Rogen is “over.”
The pair first collaborated in 1999 on the TV show Freaks and Geeks and later starred together in popular films like Pineapple Express, The Interview, This Is the End, and The Disaster Artist.
In January 2018, s*xual misconduct allegations surfaced against James Franco. At the time, Franco stated that while the accusations were “not accurate,” he didn’t want to “shut down” individuals who “didn’t have a voice.” Ultimately, he agreed to pay $2.23 million (£1.67 million) to settle a lawsuit filed by two former students from his now-closed film school, Studio 4.
Since then, the 46-year-old actor has largely stayed out of the public eye, making his first appearance in over six years this past May. Recently, Franco opened up about his dramatic fall from grace in a new interview with Variety.
The 127 Hours actor expressed gratitude for being back at work as he discussed his new film Hey Joe. Reflecting on his years away from film sets, Franco shared that the time allowed him to “really change what he needed to change.”
In the interview, he explained, “I did go through a lawsuit, and during that lawsuit, I wasn’t working. But then COVID hit, so everybody wasn’t working. So, I don’t know, it was all…I mean, we were all kind of in it.
“So it was sort of like, ‘I don’t know what I am.’ But I did certainly use the time to, I hope, good purpose.”
Franco continued, “Whatever had been going on with me before, I had to change my whole way of life. So I am proud of the work I did during that time.”
While he wasn’t working on films, he noted he was dedicated to “a lot of work to change who I was.”
Franco also disclosed that he and Bad Neighbours star Seth Rogen are no longer in contact. “I haven’t talked to Seth. 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.”
Rogen, Franco’s longtime collaborator and close friend, publicly distanced himself in May 2021, despite previously expressing support. He later told The Sunday Times that their relationship had “changed.”
Rogen stated, “What I can say is that I despise abuse and harassment, and I would never cover or conceal the actions of someone doing it, nor would I knowingly put someone in a situation where they were around someone like that.”
Reflecting on a 2018 interview where he had said he’d continue working with Franco, Rogen admitted, “The truth is that I have not, and I do not plan to right now.”
He added, “I can say it, um, you know, it has changed many things in our relationship and our dynamic.”
and we don’t have any plans to work together.
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In a 2021 appearance on The Jess Cagle Podcast on SiriusXM, Franco spoke highly of Rogen while acknowledging his former friend’s decision to distance himself.
“I love Seth Rogen,” Franco shared. “I worked with him for 20 years. We didn’t have one fight in 20 years. He was my absolute closest work friend, collaborator. We just gelled.
“What he said is true. You know, we aren’t working together right now and we don’t have any plans to work together.”
“Of course, it was hurtful, in context, but I get it,” Franco admitted. “He had to answer for me because I was silent. He had to answer for me, and I don’t want that.”
He continued, “That’s one of the main reasons I wanted to talk to you today: I don’t want Seth, my brother, or anyone else to have to answer for me anymore.”
