Celebrity News January 21, 2018
James Franco Will Attend SAG Awards 2018, Plus: Scarlett Johansson Calls Him Out
UPDATE: E! News asked Alison Brie her thoughts on the allegations against her brother-in-law James Franco. She responded, "I think that above all, what we've always said is it remains vital that anyone that feels victimized should and does have the right to speak out and come forward. I obviously support my family. Not everything that has been reported is fully accurate, so I think we're waiting to get all the information. But of course now is the time for listening and that's what we're all trying to do."
James Franco, nominated for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role for "The Disaster Artist," will attend Sunday evening's SAG Awards, his rep has confirmed.
James Franco Accused of Sexually Exploitative Behavior — 5 Women Speak Out
View StoryFranco had skipped out on the Critics' Choice Awards after multiple women accused him of sexual misconduct in a stinging Los Angeles Times piece.
He won the Critics' Choice Award, and is considered a frontrunner for a SAG nod as well.
At Saturday's Women's March, Scarlett Johansson angrily called Franco out without naming him, though her rep later confirmed to People magazine that it was Franco of whom she was speaking.
“How could a person publicly stand by an organization that helps to provide support for victims of sexual assault, while privately preying on people who have no power?" Johansson seethed. "I want my pin back, by the way."
Johansson's remark referred to the fact that Franco wore a TIME'S UP pin to the Golden Globes. Franco wearing the pin led Ally Sheedy — who had worked with him on a 2014 play — to tweet, "James Franco just won. Please never ever ask me why I left the film/tv business... Why is James Franco allowed in?" and other comments, all of which she later deleted.
One of the women who accused Franco of misconduct in the L.A. Times piece also reacted to his wearing of the TIME'S UP pin to the Globes. Sarah Tither-Kaplan tweeted:
Hey James Franco, nice #timesup pin at the #GoldenGlobes , remember a few weeks ago when you told me the full nudity you had me do in two of your movies for $100/day wasn't exploitative because I signed a contract to do it? Times up on that!
@sarahtk
Franco said during an appearance on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," “I can't live if there's restitution to be made. If I've done something wrong, I will fix it. I have to. I don't know what else to do. As far as the bigger issue of how we do it, I really don't have the answers. I think the point of this whole thing is that we listen. I'm here to listen and learn and change my perspective where it's off. I'm completely willing and want to.”
Ashley Judd Calls James Franco's Response to Allegations 'Terrific'
View StoryHe then said on "Late Night with Seth Meyers," "There are people that need to be heard. I have my own side of this story, but I believe in, you know, these people that have been underrepresented getting their stories out enough that I will hold back things that I could say just because I believe in it that much, and if I have to take a knock because I'm not going to try and actively refute things, then I will. Because I believe in it that much."
Franco's attorney Michael Plonsker disputed all the allegations made in the L.A. Times piece.