Stephen Colbert wasn’t afraid to ask some tough questions from his guest, James Franco, on Tuesday’s Late Show.
At Sunday’s Golden Globes, James Franco won an award for best actor in a comedy or musical for his portrayal of Tommy Wiseau in his movie, The Disaster Artist. He donned a Time’s Up pin showing his support for the initiative devoted to addressing the abuse of power and promoting racial and gender equality in the workplace.
Afterwards, Franco was criticized on Twitter for wearing the Times Up pin. In a tweet confirmed by USA TODAY, Violet Paley accused the actor of inappropriate behavior including pushing her head towards his exposed penis and inviting her 17- year old friend to his hotel.Paley indicated that Franco’s alleged conversation with the teenager was leaked in 2014, in which he reportedly asked if he should get the two a hotel room.Paley said the two also had a “consensual relationship” and that recently Franco has offered her and others “an overdue, annoyed, convenient phone ‘apology,’ ” which she says she does not accept.
Colbert asked James Franco about the criticism he faced for wearing the pin to the last weekend’s award show.
“First, I want to say I wore it ’cause I do support it,” Franco reasoned. “I was so excited to win, but being in that room that night was incredible. I mean it was powerful and there were incredible voices, and I support it. I support change.”
He also mentioned the social media accusations, including the tweets reportedly crafted by the actress Ally Sheedy criticizing him.According to a screenshot of the now deleted tweets, Sheedy asked why Franco was allowed to attend the ceremony and after his win, she reportedly tweeted “Please never ever ask me why I left the film/tv business.” She also used #MeToo after spotting Franco and Christian Slater at a table.
Franco said in the Late Show that”There were some things on Twitter … I haven’t read them. I’ve heard about them, First of all, I have no idea what I did to Ally Sheedy. I directed her in a play off-Broadway. I had nothing but a great time with her — total respect for her. I have no idea why she was upset.”
“The others, in my life, I pride myself on taking responsibility for things that I’ve done,” he continued. “The things I heard that were on Twitter are not accurate, but I completely support people coming out and being able to have a voice because they didn’t have a voice for so long. So, I don’t want to shut them down in any way. It’s, I think, a good thing, and I support it.”
Colbert asked if Franco had any thoughts on how to find the truth when people have different opinions regarding a situation.
“The way I live my life, I can’t live if there’s restitution to be made, I will make it. So, if I’ve done something wrong, I will fix it. I have to,” he said. “As far as the bigger issues, you know, how we do it, I really don’t have the answers, and I think the point of this whole thing is that we listen. There were incredible people talking that night. They had a lot to say, and I’m here to listen and learn and change my perspective where it’s off. I’m completely willing, and I want to.”
The New York Times has canceled Wednesday’s TimesTalk event where he and his Disaster Artist co-star and brother, Dave Franco, were slated to chat about the project.The news outlet said in a statement that “given the controversy surrounding recent allegations,” it had canceled the discussion, according to The Associated Press.
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