Seth Rogen Was “Not Happy” To Be Asked About James Franco Claiming Their Friendship Is Over: “It Really Wasn’t On My Radar”
After James Franco‘s candid statements about the state of his once lucrative friendship with Seth Rogen, the Studio star was reportedly “not happy” to be asked about it in a new interview.
Franco made headlines in 2024 after he confessed that he and Rogen no longer keep in touch. But Rogen was not so willing to dish on their friendship when Esquire questioned him about what he thought of Franco’s statements.
“Honestly, I absorb so little media that it really wasn’t on my radar,” Rogen said.
The publication notes Rogen was “clearly not surprised to get the question” but was “clearly not happy.” Rogen reportedly did not want to speak further about the topic.
The former partners and friends first met as castmates on the cult classic Freaks and Geeks, launching a decades-long partnership that produced some of the biggest ensemble comedies of the 2000s, including Pineapple Express, This Is The End and Sausage Party. They last shared the screen in the 2017 comedy drama The Disaster Artist.
But their friendship came to an end when Franco was accused of sexual misconduct in 2018 by multiple women who attended his acting school. Franco later settled a class action lawsuit from two former students who accused him and his business partners of engaging in “widespread inappropriate and sexually charged behavior towards female students.”
In 2024, Franco confirmed he and Rogen had not kept in touch. “I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over. And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he’s meant to me,” he told Variety.
Franco’s comments came after Rogen explicitly stated that he has no plans of collaborating with him again.
“What I can say is that I despise abuse and harassment and I would never cover or conceal the actions of someone doing it, or knowingly put someone in a situation where they were around someone like that,” Rogen told The Sunday Times in 2021.
“I also look back to that interview in 2018 where I comment that I would keep working with James, and the truth is that I have not and I do not plan to right now,” he added.
If you or someone you know needs to reach out about sexual abuse or assault, RAINN is available 24/7 at 800-656-HOPE (4673), or online at RAINN.org.
