James Franco has officially confirmed that his friendship with Seth Rogen is over, marking the end of their long-running collaboration. The duo, who first worked together on Freaks and Geeks in 1999 and later on hits like Pineapple Express and This Is the End, has faced a fallout following allegations of sexual misconduct against Franco in 2018. During an interview, Franco acknowledged the end of their friendship, stating, “I haven’t talked to Seth. I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over.” He admitted to trying to communicate how much Rogen meant to him, but their connection was ultimately broken.
The accusations, which Franco has previously described as “not accurate,” led to a lawsuit brought by two former students of his now-closed Studio 4 film school. Franco settled the lawsuit for $2.23 million but largely stayed out of the public eye for several years. In 2021, Seth Rogen made it clear that their working relationship had changed, saying, “I despise abuse and harassment, and I would never cover or conceal the actions of someone doing it.” He added that while they had previously discussed continuing to work together, he no longer had plans to collaborate with Franco.
During the interview, Franco expressed how difficult it was to hear Rogen’s change of heart but understood why his former friend had to distance himself. Franco remarked, “Of course, it was hurtful, in context, but I get it. He had to answer for me ’cause I was silent.” He said that this situation was one of the main reasons he decided to speak out, explaining that he didn’t want Rogen or his brother to have to answer for his actions anymore.
Despite the challenges, Franco expressed appreciation for the time he spent working with Rogen and acknowledged the personal changes he has made in the years since the allegations came to light. Their split marks a significant moment in both actors’ careers, closing the door on one of Hollywood’s most popular comedic partnerships.
