Seth Rogen is standing by a decision that ended one of Hollywood\u2019s most recognisable creative partnerships.<\/p>\n
Years after James Franco\u2019s career was derailed by sexual misconduct allegations<\/a>, Rogen says nothing has changed when it comes to where they stand today \u2013 professionally or personally.<\/p>\n Rogen was recently asked about his longtime friendship with Franco, with whom he collaborated on a string of hit projects, including Pineapple Express, This Is the End and The Interview before publicly distancing himself from the actor following allegations that surfaced in 2018.<\/p>\n When asked how he navigated ending such an important friendship, Rogen acknowledged the topic remains deeply personal.<\/p>\n \u201cI mean, I\u2019m trying to think how much I want to personally share about this,\u201d Rogen told The New York Times\u2019 The Daily podcast<\/a>.<\/p>\n During the interview, it was noted that society continues to grapple with questions surrounding accountability, forgiveness and whether public figures who have behaved badly should be welcomed back into people\u2019s lives.<\/p>\n Rogen declined to delve into details but made clear his position has not changed.<\/p>\n \u201cI honestly think the nuance of it is too personal for me to get into right now. It is a very personal thing, and I think there\u2019s like the public-facing side of it, which I\u2019ve spoken about, and I have the same stance publicly that I\u2019ve had,\u201d Rogen said.<\/p>\n \u201cAnd I think the proof is in the pudding more than anything. I have not worked with him in years, you know, but the personal side of it is just \u2026 it\u2019s so nuanced, and it involves people that I don\u2019t know if I should be dragging into this,\u201d he continued.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what I would benefit from getting deeply into it in this moment, but I\u2019d say everything I\u2019ve said \u2026 nothing has changed really since the last time I talked about all this.\u201d<\/p>\n Rogen then delivered his clearest statement yet about the future of their relationship, saying, \u201cI haven\u2019t worked with him in a really long time, and I have no plans to.\u201d<\/p>\n When asked whether he still speaks to Franco, Rogen responded, \u201cI haven\u2019t talked to him in a long time, no.\u201d<\/p>\n The comments come as Franco attempts to rebuild his acting career years after multiple allegations of inappropriate sexual behaviour surfaced.<\/p>\n The actor was first accused of sexually inappropriate conduct by five women in a Los Angeles Times report<\/a> published in January 2018.<\/p>\n A year later, former students filed a class-action lawsuit in Los Angeles County Superior Court alleging that Franco and his associates pressured students into performing explicit scenes on camera and engaged in inappropriate behaviour toward female students at an acting school he co-founded with business partner Vince Jolivette.<\/p>\n According to the complaint, the women alleged they paid monthly tuition to attend the school and were subjected to intimidation and sexual objectification while being promised potential acting opportunities.<\/p>\n Franco agreed to settle the lawsuit in June 2021<\/a>, signing off on a payment of $US2.235 million.<\/p>\n Despite the controversy, Franco has slowly returned to acting and reflected in 2024 on the fallout during an interview with Variety<\/a> while promoting the Italian film Hey Joe.<\/p>\n \u201cI\u2019m so grateful to be working,\u201d Franco said. \u201cI did go through a lawsuit, and during that lawsuit I wasn\u2019t working. But then Covid hit, so everybody wasn\u2019t working. So, I don\u2019t know, it was all \u2026 I mean, we were all kind of in it. So it was sort of like, \u2018I don\u2019t know what I am.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n Franco also addressed the collapse of his friendship with Rogen, revealing that despite his efforts, the two have not reconnected.<\/p>\n \u201cNo. I haven\u2019t talked to Seth,\u201d Franco told Variety. \u201cI love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it\u2019s over. And not for lack of trying. I\u2019ve told him how much he\u2019s meant to me.\u201d<\/p>\n Franco is best known for his roles in Spider-Man, 127 Hours and other Hollywood hits.<\/p>\n