James Franco, once a prolific actor in Hollywood, faced a downfall in 2019. Multiple allegations of sexual misconduct surfaced against him. These included accusations of abusing his power as a teacher at his acting school by pursuing sexual relationships with students.
- In 2019, two former students sued Franco alleging he pressured them into sexually suggestive scenes in films
- Franco settled the lawsuit in 2021 for $2.2 million and admitted to abusing his power by engaging in consensual sexual encounters with his students, though he maintained his innocence of the original accusations.
These controversies significantly impacted Franco’s career. He has had far fewer acting roles since then. There has been some debate about whether he should be allowed back into Hollywood altogether.
There have been recent signs of a potential return, however. In 2022, he was cast in a new movie, though the casting decision itself has been controversial.