Jan 11, 2018

Five women accuse James Franco of sexual misconduct

Actor James Franco speaks onstage during the National Board of Review Annual Awards Gala. Photo: Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty Images for National Board of Review

Five women have accused actor James Franco of behavior they found "inappropriate or sexually exploitative," reports the Los Angeles Times. The allegations largely stem from interactions at two acting schools, environments in which the women felt Franco could directly help their careers through casting in his own projects.

Why it matters: Franco, who won Best Actor in a Musical or Comedy at Sunday's Golden Globes, came under fire for expressing support for the Time's Up movement amid rumors of his own misconduct.

The response: In lieu of a comment, Franco's lawyer disputed the allegations and pointed to the actor's appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Tuesday, where he addressed the rumors. "Look, in my life I pride myself on taking responsibility for things that I have done. ... If I have done something wrong, I will fix it — I have to," Franco said.

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