James Franco says he cheated on all of his past partners prior to his current girlfriend Isabel Pakzad, who he’s been dating since November 2017.
I had several girlfriends. I couldn’t be loyal to anyone. “I cheated upon everyone before Isabel,” admitted the actor aged 43. SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Podcast will air Thursday, December 23.
Franco stated that his twenty-year battle with sex dependence was the primary reason for his infidelity. This is an issue Franco has successfully been fighting for the last five years.
Changes: James Franco says he cheated on all of his past partners prior to his current girlfriend Isabel Pakzad; Isabel and James pictured in 2019
“I had been in treatment for substance abuse before. There were other issues I needed to address that had to do with addiction.
James explained, “And so I have really used my rehabilitation background to kinda start looking at this and changing who i was.”
Franco confessed that as a teenager he was addicted to alcohol and got sober. [he]He was 17 years old, but eventually his addictions would flood other areas of his life.
It was like I could no longer drink alcohol for that gap. My addiction to success, validation and whatever it was made me addicted.
“While I tried to climb up that mountain and get the success, the attention of women became my greatest source of validation. You can see that the problem with this is that you never have enough.
Impossible: ‘I had girlfriends. I couldn’t be loyal to anyone. The 43-year-old actress admitted that she had cheated with Isabel and everyone else before Isabel. James was photographed in 2018.
He explained that he was just trying to plug the hole, but it doesn’t get filled.
He said that sex was a powerful drug and that he got hooked for twenty more years.
James added: “The insidious aspect of this is that I was sober all the time. So I was a regular attendee at meetings. Even tried sponsoring other people.
“And so, in my mind, it was like I thought, “Oh! I’m sober.” My spirituality is my life. But I can see that on the other side, it is acting out in so many different ways. But I didn’t see.
He recalled his sponsor chastising him for cheating, but telling him that if he’s single, there’s nothing wrong with sleeping around — which Franco said he ‘ran’ with.
James is committed to Isabel; Isabel and James were pictured together in 2019.
Battle: Franco stated that his 20-year battle with sex dependence was the primary reason for his infidelity. James was photographed in 2013
‘[My sponsor was]You can say, “Look! Cheating is dishonest.” Franco stated that while I do not believe this is good for sobriety it’s fine if someone you aren’t dating wants to go out and hook up.
The problem was that I just took it and ran with it, using it as an excuse to hook up all over town. We’re just being real here. Right?’ He said.
Though he’s since made the effort to tackle his demons, the Spider-Man star recalled often feeling detached from people while addicted to sex and how that detachment caused a mountain of hurt.
“People I was with, or had dated for many years would be the ones I see most often. But I could not be there. It was almost as if I were hurting everyone.
While also being candid about his struggles with addiction, Franco spent a large portion of his podcast appearance speaking on the sexual misconduct accusations made against him in 2018 — allegations that led him to settle with two accusers for $2.2 million this summer.
The host asked him if he was okay with that. Since the women shared their stories, he has been “examining” his past and “changing who I am”.
Examination: James Franco explained that he is ‘examining’ and “changing who I am” since several women in 2018 accused him of sexual misconduct.
Freaks and Geeks is a TV series. He was silent throughout the entire time, knowing he would need to listen to and analyze his ‘behaviors and patterns’.
“I just have been doing lots of work. It’s been four years. He said.
‘I [was] completely blind to power dynamics or anything like that, but also completely blind to people’s feelings,’ he admitted, confirming that he did sleep with students at his acting school but thought it was ‘cool’ because it was ‘consensual’ and they were all adults.’
In January of 2018, five women told the Los Angeles Times that Franco had been sexually inappropriate or exploitative with them. One of them described how Franco removed the plastic guards from the actress’ vulvas while he was performing oral sex.
Two of the women, Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, sued Franco in 2019, claimed that he tried to ‘create a pipeline of young women who were subjected to his personal and professional sexual exploitation in the name of education’ while they attended his Studio 4 acting school.
Franco settled for $2.2 million in July.
Franco briefly spoke out about taking responsibility at the beginning of the allegations but maintained that he was innocent.
He has limited his public exposure since, until sitting down with the The Jess Cagle Podcast for an interview that will debut tomorrow, December 23.
Cagle was told by Cagle that he had opted to “pause” after hearing the accusations.
“I put in a lot of effort. “I guess that I can say like four years. He said
Truthful: He said he did sleep with the students of his acting school but that it was okay because it was “consensual” and all of them were adult.
He stated, “In 2018, there was some complaints about my and an article about myself and at that time I just thought it would be quiet,”
‘I’m gonna be, I’m gonna pause. This did not feel like the best time to express anything. Some people were mad at me. I was able to hear them.
Damon Young was a writer who spoke out about the human natural instinct to stop something like this from happening. It’s important to be able to move forward and do whatever it takes to make it stop.
“But that does not allow you to do your work and look underneath. Like, whatever you did, even if it was a gaff or you said something wrong or whatever, there’s probably an iceberg underneath that — of behavior, of patterning, of just being blind to yourself, that isn’t gonna just be solved overnight.
“So that’s it. I just have been working a lot. It’s been four years. He said.
He said that he never thought about the power dynamics involved in pursuing his colleagues or students at his acting school.
‘I [was]Completely blind to power dynamics and other similar phenomena, yet completely unaffected by people’s emotions. He said, “I didn’t want to hurt people.”
He said, “I will admit that I did sleep with students,” He said, “Over my entire teaching career, I did share a bed with students.” It was wrong.
“But, as I stated, that’s not the reason I founded the school. It wasn’t me who chose the students to join the class. It wasn’t my master plan, but there were instances when I did agree with students.
It was my opinion at the time. [But]It was hard for me to be as objective at that time. It all comes down to me: If it is agreed upon, then it’s okay. He stated that we are all adults.
Sarah Tither-Kaplan, pictured above, was among the actresses that publicly called Franco out on his alleged inappropriate and exploitative sexual behavior.
Toni Gaal, another student was named in the suit
In the new interview, Franco also admitted that it was ‘hurtful’ when his longtime collaborator and costar Seth Rogen said that he had no plans to work with him in the future.
Initially, when the allegations came out in 2018, Rogen told Vulture that he would continue to work with Franco.
He changed his mind in May and told Britain’s Sunday Times he wouldn’t.
He said, “I also think back to the interview from 2018 in which I commented that I would continue working with James.”
Speaking on the podcast this week, Franco said he ‘absolutely loves’ Rogen, whom he worked with for 20 years — but ‘what he said is true, you know, we aren’t working together right now and we don’t have any plans to work together.’
“Of course, it was hurtful in context but I understand it, you see, he had the to answer me because I was quiet,” he continued. “He was obliged to answer me, and that is not what I want. So that is why it was one of my main reasons to speak to you today. I simply don’t want Seth nor my brother to answer me any more.
Franco was charged with misconduct after five women reported to the Los Angeles Times that Franco had acted inappropriately in January 2018.
Violet Paley (one of the victims) claimed she was in a consensual marriage with the actor but that he forced her to perform oral sex while they were sitting in their car.
Franco admitted it was also a ‘hurtful’ moment when Seth Rogen, Franco’s long-time colleague and costar, said that he didn’t plan to continue working with him in future.
Rogen claimed that Franco hasn’t worked with him recently and that there is no plan for Franco to work together right now.
Franco had four female students in Studio 4. He claimed that Franco asked the other women to act topless, or completely naked on set.
Sarah TitherKaplan claimed that she was enrolled in Franco’s Sex Scenes masterclass at Studio 4 while she was there. She appeared to be topless in a short clip for the class. The video was later uploaded to Vimeo, without her permission.
Tither-Kaplan claims that a still taken from the video was found on at least one adult site.
You can now Google me and see me naked. Before I’ve ever been on TV or before I’ve ever had any real credits or before any of this — of course I regret that. She stated, “I don’t want that.”
But landing a role in Franco’s film The Long Home was a huge break for her — that proved uncomfortable.
Tither Kaplan was asked to perform a scene in a nude-orgy scene while she was filming. Tither Kaplan said that she accepted because the movie would give her a huge break in her career.
The scene featured Tither-Kaplan and several other women. They wore only a piece known as a Genital Guard.
Franco performed oral sex simulations on the actresses when she asked him to remove the guard. She continued acting the scene, with nothing between his mouth and their vaginas.
Tither-Kaplan was impressed by her willingness to participate in the nude organization shoot and asked to film another scene. It was an unscripted scene that saw her wear a skull animal costume and dance in circle with other women.
James Franco, pictured here in Los Angeles in November 2017, agreed to pay $2.23 million to resolve a sexual misconduct lawsuit
According to Tither Kaplan, one of the actors declined to be topless for the scene. Franco did not ask her back at the set.
Franco replied, “I had it in my mind pretty quick that you don’t tell ‘no to this guy,” she stated.
An actress who appeared alongside her in those two scenes confirmed Tither-Kaplan’s account, while Franco’s lawyer said: ‘The allegations about the protective guards are not accurate.’
Cynthia Huffman who was the casting director for the movie, commented also on these claims, saying that she had ‘personally reviewed all actresses during shoots.
Huffman stated that James was all about giving up on aspiring actors and actresses as well young filmmakers the chance to make it big in this industry.
“It is terrible that any person was made to feel unsafe, however we took great care to make sure every actress in the nude scene felt safe.
Meanwhile, Paley said that Franco was a mentor who was helping her on a script she was working on back in 2016, which eventually led to a relationship between the two.
Franco, she says forced her to do sex at the beginning.
Paley said that while Paley was speaking to him, suddenly his penis became visible. ‘I became really nervous. I asked him if we could do this later. “He was kind of pushing my head down and I didn’t want to be hated by him, so I agreed.
She claimed that she could only stop when she saw people coming towards the car.
Hilary Dusome and Natalie Chmiel said they became disenfranchised with Franco and his acting classes back in 2012 when they were selected to appear in what they were led to believe was a short art film.
Franco asked the women if they were willing to wear topless mid-way through their shoot at a club. Franco stormed from the set after refusing to let any of the women volunteer, and allegedly drank the entire thing.
“I felt that I had been selected for something because of my hard work, my merit and I later realized that it was because my nice personality.” [breasts]Dusome said that although it seemed clear, this wasn’t the truth. I don’t believe he began teaching with bad intent, but he took a wrong turn and hurt a lot people along the way.
Chmiel agreed with this sentiment, saying: “He took advantage of us eagerness to work. These were the up-and-coming actors, who were so optimistic.
Franco’s lawyer also denied these claims.
Franco then spoke to Seth Meyers via TV, saying that there were stories that needed to be heard. These people need to be heard.
“I believe in this story and I have my own perspective, but I also believe in the stories of those who have been marginalized. I won’t say anything because it is too important to me.
“And if it means that I must take a knock, I won’t, you know? Actively refute them, I will. I believe so strongly in this.
Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal went on to sue Franco, as well as his partners in the school, Vince Jolivette and Jay Davis. The settlement was reached in July.
Franco, Jolivette and Davis stated that they “continued to deny” the allegations in their complaint, but acknowledged that the Plaintiffs had raised important questions, according to the section entitled “Public Statement”.
All parties agree that it is crucial to put emphasis on the treatment of Hollywood women. All agree on the need to make sure that no one in the entertainment industry — regardless of sex, race, religion, disability, ethnicity, background, gender or sexual orientation — faces discrimination, harassment or prejudice of any kind.’
JAME FRANCO STATES HE DOES NOT DENY SEXUAL MISCONDUCT ALLEGATIONS IN ORDER TO HELP WOMENS
James Franco spoke about the allegations being amde against him on Late Night With Seth Meyers on Wednesday (above)
Seth Meyers says: Thank you very much. It’s about The Disaster Artist which I love and would like to discuss. But one thing that occurred at the Golden Globes was – this took place in the days prior to you were booked. I’m happy you are still here. As a result of their interactions with you, some people noticed that your button had a “time’s up” symbol. They also made some accusations. They made some allegations. I’m curious if you read them and how they were received.
James Franco, Yes. A couple of tweets were sent to me, and I read them. I have yet to respond. Although the information I received was not correct, I have learned that this conversation is essential. People, including women, have been excluded from this discussion. I believe that this is a conversation that needs to take place and that I supported that.
Seth: Ally Sheedy had also tweeted it. Since then, she has taken it down. Last night, Stephen Colbert mentioned that she had seen you direct her in a play. She’s been a great friend. Are you curious about why she would reach out to you if there was a positive relationship between you and her?
James: I did have a wonderful relationship with her. The tweet was taken down by her, but I’m not sure why. It’s not clear to me.
Seth, I am not interested enough in her to ask why.
James: It’s not clear. I was shocked. I’m not sure. It’s just that I – I suppose I’m just letting the situation be.
Seth: I don’t know what I will say or how to ask this question, but this moment is exciting because it allows us all, particularly men, to remember that other perspectives were available for the same experiences. Do you think the Times Up movement, and this moment that we are having now make it possible to look back and question your behaviour in the past because of this fresh perspective on women’s perceptions?
James: James I feel like what I have learned is from this show and it’s week. It was amazing in there.
Seth: We heard amazing things about some incredible women.
James: There are many stories that must be told. People need to hear their stories. Although I may have my story to tell, I am committed to helping these underrepresented people get their stories heard. I won’t say things I couldn’t because it is so important. If I need to accept a knock, I won’t, you understand, try to actively discredit things. I believe it so much.
Source: Late Night with Seth Meyers