James Franco has been slammed over comments he made about his 20-year friendship with Seth Rogen being ‘over’.
While they may have been many people’s favourite comedy bromance, it seems all ‘good’ things come to an end. The duo had of course starred alongside each other in films like Pineapple Express, The Interview and This Is The End.
But a recent interview with Franco revealed the pair no longer talk. Rogen publicly cut off his co-star following accusations of sexual misconduct back in 2018.
At the time, Franco described allegations as ‘not accurate’ but added he didn’t want to ‘shut down’ those who ‘didn’t have a voice’. The now 46-year-old agreed to pay out $2.23million (£1.67million) to settle a lawsuit brought by two former students of his now-defunct film school, Studio 4.
Franco is making his return. (Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
He’s been largely out of the spotlight ever since but this year made his first public appearance in six years. Franco has now told Variety he’s ‘grateful to be working’ again, after quite the fall from grace.
Claiming he’s ‘changed his whole way of life’, he opened up about his relationship with Rogen now.
“I haven’t talked to Seth,” Franco said. “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.”
And his interview has now, unsurprisingly, gone viral as people criticise his comments.
One accused Franco of ‘trying to make Seth look like the villain’.
Others added that ‘Seth did the right thing’ by ‘cutting off all ties’.
Franco and Rogen in early 2018. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)
Another put: “I do not blame Seth Rogen at all.”
Although, there still are some fans who called it the ‘end of an era’ and one who even claimed: “Real friends don’t drop you when you’re down.”
With another going as far to say: “What a great legendary duo they were. I’ll never forgive Seth for switching up on him. SMH.”
But while some may have their own theories on the whole thing, Rogen did publicly speak out in 2021 when he told the Sunday Times about the stance he was taking.
“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.” he said.
“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.
“I can say it, um, you know, it has changed many things in our relationship and our dynamic.”