Franco talks misconduct allegations
James Franco has addressed the sexual misconduct allegations against him for the first time, a few months after he settled a lawsuit for $2.2 million that alleged that he and his associates coerced acting students into performing sexually explicit scenes on camera.
The actor broke his silence on SiriusXM’s “The Jess Cagle” podcast, where he discussed the allegations.
“In 2018, there were some complaints about me and an article about me. And at that moment I just thought, ‘I’m gonna be quiet. I’m gonna pause.’ [It] did not seem like the right time to say anything. There were people that were upset with me and I needed to listen,” Franco said.
In January 2018, five women accused Franco of inappropriate and sexually exploitative behavior while four of them were students at his acting school Studio 4, which was soon closed. Two of the students filed a lawsuit in 2019 alleging that classes existed mainly to create a way for Franco and his associates to take advantage of young women. In June 2021, Franco paid $2,235,000 as a settlement, with $894,000 going to the named plaintiffs and $1,341,000 going into a common fund for the rest of the members of the lawsuit.
Franco said that he’s been working on himself in the wake of the allegations.
Cohen contracts COVID-19 again:
For fans wondering why Andy Cohen’s SiriusXM show was airing reruns, it wasn’t due to
him taking an early holiday break. The Emmy Award-winning reality TV kingpin revealed he was battling a breakthrough case of COVID-19.
Cohen returned to the New York City studios on
Monday after quarantining for 10 days. This was the second time he tested positive for the virus.
“I am so happy I could cry right now,” he shared. “I had COVID. That’s why we were gone all last week. And the best news is I woke up this morning to a negative PCR test.”
The 53-year-old father said he’d gotten a COVID19 vaccine booster shot and started to feel ill afterward.
Two days later, he was still feeling sick and it was getting worse.“I thought that I was sick from the booster, that I was having a reaction to the booster,” he explained. “And then two days later, I was like, ‘Wait a minute, this is quite a big reaction.’ ”
Cohen first contracted COVID-19 in March 2020.
Smith, Thompson win at Black Film Critics Awards:
The Black Film Critics Circle has named Reinaldo
Marcus Green’s “King Richard” the best film of 2021.
The drama that focuses on the rise of Venus and Serena Williams picked up three additional awards, including best actor (Will Smith), supporting actress (Aunjanue Ellis) and original screenplay (Zach Baylin).
The critics’ group recognized Tessa Thompson’s powerhouse performance in “Passing” with the best actress prize, her second of the season so far.
Dec. 23 birthdays: Actor Ronnie Schell is 90. Actor Frederic Forrest is 85. Guitarist Jorma Kaukonen is 81. Actor Harry Shearer is 78. Actor Susan Lucci is 75. Guitarist Dave Murray is 65. Actor Joan Severance is 63. Singer Eddie Vedder is 57. Actor Anna Maria Perez de Tagle is 31. Actor Spencer Daniels is 29. Actor Caleb Foote is 28.