Seth Rogen Addresses Franco’s Controversial Past in New Interview

NEW YORK, N.Y. — In a recent cover story with Esquire, Seth Rogen opened up about his complicated relationship with James Franco, following the actor’s past accusations of sexual misconduct. Rogen’s comments come four months after Franco’s remarks at the Rome Film Festival, where he addressed the fallout from those allegations.

When questioned about how he feels about having such personal matters made public, Rogen stated, ‘Honestly, I absorb so little media that it really wasn’t on my radar.’ He expressed a sense of resignation regarding the ongoing attention surrounding their friendship. According to Esquire, Rogen was ‘clearly not surprised to get the question,’ but also ‘just as clearly not happy about it.’

Rogen and Franco shared a professional camaraderie that dates back to their early careers, having collaborated on several projects including Freaks and Geeks (1999), Superbad (2007), Pineapple Express (2008), This Is the End (2013), The Disaster Artist (2017), among others. However, their friendship appeared to suffer a significant rift in 2018, following allegations from five women, four of whom were his acting students, detailed in a Los Angeles Times article.

Rogen has acknowledged that the allegations affected their relationship, stating, ‘I’d say yes’ when asked if they impacted their friendship. He further elaborated, ‘I don’t know if I can define that right now during this interview. I can say it, um, you know, it has changed many things in our relationship and our dynamic.’

In a conversation with Variety in October 2024, Franco confirmed that he and Rogen had not remained in contact. ‘I haven’t talked to Seth. I love Seth; we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over,’ Franco said. ‘And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he’s meant to me.’

Rogen’s reticence on the subject underscores the tension and unease surrounding their past friendship as the fallout from Franco’s accusations continues to unfold in the public eye. If you or someone you know has been a victim of sexual abuse, text ‘STRENGTH’ to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741 to be connected to a certified crisis counselor.