James Franco responds to allegations of sexual misconduct
Top Talkers: The Golden Globe winner tells late night host Stephen Colbert that claims of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior that he's heard on Twitter are not accurate.
Despite allegations of sexual misconduct from five women, James Franco is set to attend the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday night.
A source told Entertainment Tonight, “James will still attend the SAG Awards because there is no reason not to. He will carry on supporting the cause and moving forward.”
Franco is nominated for outstanding performance by a male actor in a leading role for “The Disaster Artist.”
The Los Angeles Times reported earlier this month that four women recalled negative experiences working with Franco at his Studio 4 film school. They claimed the actor “abused his power” as their teacher and “sexually exploited” them. The fifth accuser, an ex-girlfriend, claimed Franco pressured her to perform oral sex on him in a car.
Franco, who recently won the best actor in a comedy or musical at the Golden Globes, was noticeably absent from the Critics’ Choice Awards amid the harassment claims.
The 39-year-old actor is also reportedly reaching out to his exes and asking about his behavior toward them.
“He’s known this was coming and was trying to get ahead of the story,” a source told People.
Shortly after the article was released, Franco told Seth Meyers, “I have my own side of this story, but I believe in these people that have been underrepresented getting their stories out enough that I will hold back things that I could say, just because I believe in it that much. So if I have to take a knock because I’m not going to try and actively refute things, then I will, because I believe in it that much.”
Franco’s rep did not return our request for comment.
This article originally appeared in Page Six.
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