Content Warning: This article about Seth Rogen and James Franco discusses sexual harassment and misconduct.
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Seth Rogen has spoken out about the allegations of sexual misconduct against longtime collaborator James Franco, revealing he doesn’t plan to work with him again.
In an interview with The Sunday Times, Rogen addressed the allegations, as well as his 2014 Saturday Night Live appearance where he joked about a 17-year-old girl accusing Franco of messaging her to meet up.
“I decided to prank James Franco,” said Rogen during his SNL opening monologue.
“I posed as a girl on Instagram, told him I was way young. He seemed unfazed. I have a date to meet him at the Ace Hotel.”
“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,” Rogen told The Sunday Times.
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“However, I do look back at a joke I made on Saturday Night Live in 2014 and I very much regret making that joke… it was a terrible joke, honestly.”
Further accusations against Franco were made in 2018 when students at his former acting school claimed he pressured them into sexual situations.
According to Variety, the allegations resulted in a lawsuit where it was alleged that Franco had forced the students to perform explicit sex scenes on camera, leading them to believe that roles in his films would become available if they complied.
A settlement deal was reached on the lawsuit back in February.
Despite the allegations, Rogen previously said that he would continue to work with Franco — but says that has now changed.
“I also 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,” he said.
Rogen went on to say that it is “not a coincidence” that their professional relationship appears to have ended, and also said that the allegations have impacted their friendship as well.
“I don’t know if I can define [the friendship] right now during this interview… “I can say it, um, you know, it has changed many things in our relationship and our dynamic,” he said.
When the interview stated that the situation “must have been painful,” Rogan replied: “Yeah. But not as painful and difficult as it is for a lot of other people involved. I have no pity for myself in this situation.”
For more on this topic, follow the Film & TV Observer.
