James Franco has come under fire after sharing that his long-standing friendship with Seth Rogen has come to an end. Their 20-year connection was once a fan-favorite comedy duo, seen in movies like Pineapple Express, The Interview, and This Is The End.
But in a recent interview, Franco revealed that he and Rogen no longer speak. The fallout between the two began when Rogen distanced himself from Franco following accusations of sexual misconduct that surfaced back in 2018.
At the time, Franco denied the allegations, calling them “not accurate” but said he didn’t want to silence anyone who felt they didn’t have a platform to share their voice. The now 46-year-old actor eventually settled a lawsuit with two former students from his defunct Studio 4 film school, paying $2.23 million (£1.67 million).
After years away from the public eye, Franco recently made his first major appearance in six years. In an interview with Variety, he expressed his gratitude for being able to work again, explaining that he’s made significant changes to his life and perspective.
Speaking about Rogen, Franco said: “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.”
Unsurprisingly, this interview has sparked a lot of online debate, with many criticizing Franco’s comments.
One person suggested that Franco was attempting to “make Seth look like the villain,” while others commended Rogen for making the “right choice” by severing ties.
Another person wrote: “I do not blame Seth Rogen at all.”
While some fans felt it was the “end of an era,” others were disappointed in Rogen’s decision to step away, with one commenting: “Real friends don’t drop you when you’re down.”
One fan went further, saying: “What a great legendary duo they were. I’ll never forgive Seth for switching up on him. SMH.”
Rogen himself addressed the situation publicly in 2021 during an interview with the Sunday Times, where he explained his stance on the matter.
He 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, or knowingly put someone in a situation where they were around someone like that.”
Reflecting on his previous comments about Franco, he added: “I look back to that interview in 2018 where I comment that I would keep working with James, and the truth is that I have not and I do not plan to right now.”
And in terms of how his relationship with Franco has shifted, he remarked: “I can say it, um, you know, it has changed many things in our relationship and our dynamic.”
