James Franco: two years in the shade after accusations of sexual abuse

[Akrapovic]

The artistic ostracism came in search of him and the moment could not be more inopportune, since he is favorite for his film 'The Disaster Artist'

James Franco is back in the disparadero. Two women who were students of their acting classes have denounced the actor and accuse him of taking advantage of them sexually. The lawsuit was filed this Thursday in a Los Angeles court and it is alleged that there was "an environment of harassment and sexual exploitation." Tither-Kaplan, as he had already stated in the 'Los Angeles Times' article, specified in the lawsuit the alleged filming of an orgy in which Franco pretended to practice oral sex for women.

According to the accusation account, Franco removed the plastic protections that covered women's vaginas before simulating oral sex.
In 2017, Franco went from savoring the honeys of success with an award as a comedy actor at the Golden Globes 2018 for 'The Disaster Artist' to be a 'stinker' in the industry. That year, a few days after the award, he stayed at home after winning the same award at the Critics' Choice Awards. The reason for his absence was more than obvious: this week, three actresses had already accused him of having sexually harassed them.

It has not helped that the actor has flatly denied these accusations or tried to give explanations. His lawyer has been responsible for transmitting that the statements were not accurate and that his client does not know “what the girls are talking about”. He himself has also sold his friendlier face in several talk shows broadcast this week within that crazy and sometimes sterile campaign that usually accompanies the Oscar celebration.

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Although he has been acting in the series 'The Deuce' for two years, the actor has tiptoed through public events. 'The Disaster Artist', the movie he directed and starred in 2017, a kind of 'Ed Wood' in which the love for cinema is shown through the inspired biography of Tommy Wiseau, author of the disastrous (and wonderful) 'The Room' was his spoiled child. After winning the Silver Shell at the San Sebastian Festival, Franco saw how his film became one of the bombings of the year and a more than sure candidate for the Academy Awards.

However, Hollywood does not forgive. And even less since the Harvey Weinstein scandal erupted, which has caused the rumors of harassment to spread like wildfire and have a domino effect that threatens to sink several characters in the film industry.

The actor James Franco on the show 'The Late Show'.
The actor James Franco on the show 'The Late Show'.

Surely that was the reason that Franco preferred not to attend a ceremony in which they were going to have to do with the staff of his teammates and, probably, with the appearance of more virulent accusations in social networks. What was said about him two years ago was as unpleasant as the last accusations. The phrase of actress Violet Paley, for example, was devastating. "I was talking to him and, suddenly, his penis was out," he said.

In the face of such accusations, those of those who defend and believe in him also appeared. David Simon, for example, said he has "no complaint or worrying incident that has to do with Mr. Franco." Simon, one of the great creators of the history of television, has directed it in 'The Deuce' and only has good words for the actor-director.

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“Personally, I can only speak knowingly about 'The Deuce'. I have consulted with all my fellow producers and other staff. We have no complainants or complaints or knowledge of any incident of concern involving Mr. Franco. Nor has HBO been approached with any complaints. In our experience, he was completely professional as an actor, director and producer, ”he said.

In recent years, Hollywood is divided between those who seamlessly support the reporting of cases of harassment and those who think that the fabric is becoming a 'witch hunt'. Cases like Franco's might remind the communist paranoia that shattered Chaplin's careers and so many others. The subject is thorny enough to keep it going much longer. Too many for a James Franco who already lost an Oscar that seemed to be his.