Why Hollywood is Shunning James Franco: The Downfall of a Former Heartthrob

James Franco, once hailed as the James Dean of his generation, has experienced a dramatic fall from grace.

After earning critical acclaim and accolades for his early roles, including an Emmy nomination and a Golden Globe win for his portrayal of James Dean in a TV biopic, Franco's career has been marred by allegations of s**ual misconduct.

These allegations have even caused his longtime collaborator and friend, Seth Rogen, to distance himself from Franco.

When asked if he would continue working with Franco, Rogen, who co-starred with him in several films, including “Pineapple Express” and “This Is the End,” stated that he currently has no plans to do so.

Representatives for Franco did not respond to requests for comment.

Franco's career has been marked by highs and lows.

From receiving an Oscar nomination for Best Actor in “127 Hours” to a widely panned hosting gig at the Academy Awards alongside Anne Hathaway, the actor has made some questionable choices.

He dabbled in soap opera acting, took up painting, and even delved into dance theater.

He also pursued multiple graduate programs, including one at Yale.

After gaining fame through the Judd Apatow series “Freaks and Geeks,” where he starred alongside Rogen, Franco became a certified movie star.

He appeared in blockbusters like “Eat Pray Love” and the “Spider-Man” franchise, as well as critically acclaimed films such as “Milk” and “Spring Breakers.”

He even won a Golden Globe for his performance in “The Disaster Artist.”

However, in 2014, Franco's reputation took a hit when he took a selfie with a 17-year-old girl outside a theater where he was performing on Broadway.

He later sent her private messages, offering to rent a hotel room for them.

Although Franco defended himself, claiming that he was not pursuing underage girls, the incident raised eyebrows.

In 2018, Franco faced further backlash after winning a Golden Globe for “The Disaster Artist.”

Actress Ally Sheedy, who had worked with him on a play in 2014, tweeted cryptic messages that were interpreted by many as accusing Franco of s**ual harassment or abuse.

Other women, including former students and actresses, also came forward with allegations of misconduct.

Franco denied the allegations, but several women from the Los Angeles Times report filed a s**ual harassment lawsuit against him in 2019.

A private settlement was reached in 2021.

Last month, comedian Charlyne Yi accused Franco of being a s**ual predator and claimed that Rogen and other producers tried to bribe her to stay on a film project after she attempted to quit due to Franco's behavior.

Franco's former “Freaks and Geeks” co-star Busy Philipps also spoke out against him, alleging that he assaulted her on set.

According to her memoir, Franco became physically aggressive with her during a scene, throwing her to the ground.

Now, Franco's career is in tatters, with even Rogen distancing himself from him.

The last film they worked on together was “The Disaster Artist” in 2017.

Rogen expressed his disdain for abuse and harassment and stated that he would never cover up or enable such actions.

He also regretted his past jokes about Franco's behavior on “SNL.”

Franco's downfall serves as a cautionary tale in Hollywood, highlighting the consequences of allegations of s**ual misconduct.

As more individuals come forward and the industry reckons with its history of enabling abusive behavior, actors like Franco are finding it increasingly difficult to remain in the spotlight.