Seth Rogen Says He Has No Plans to Work With James Franco Again

Seth Rogen says his professional split with James Franco is unchanged years after allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against Franco. In a new interview with The New York Times, Rogen said, "Nothing has changed since the last time I spoke about it, and I have not worked with him in a long time, and I have no plans to do so." He also declined to go into the personal side of the relationship, saying it was too complex and involved other people he did not want to bring into the discussion.

Rogen and Franco had been close friends for years and collaborated on multiple Hollywood projects, including the TV series "Freaks and Geeks" and films such as "The End," "This Is the End," "Pineapple Express," and "The Interview." Their relationship changed after accusations against Franco first emerged in 2014, and Rogen has since stopped working with him. When asked if they still spoke, Rogen said, "I have not talked to him in a long time."

The article reviews the allegations that damaged Franco's standing in Hollywood. In 2014, a 17-year-old girl published messages showing Franco trying to arrange a hotel meeting with her. Franco later acknowledged the messages were authentic and posted on X, then Twitter, "I hope parents keep their teens away from me." Later, more women, including actresses and acting students, accused him of inappropriate behavior, including using auditions as leverage for sexual acts and acting out sexual behavior during classes.

A class-action lawsuit by two students against his Los Angeles acting school, which closed in 2017, ended in a settlement outside court. Rogen initially appeared to defend Franco, even joking about the situation on "Saturday Night Live" in 2014, but by 2021 he said he regretted that joke and would never hide or cover for someone who abuses or harasses others. He has repeatedly said he does not intend to collaborate with Franco again.