The long-running friendship and creative partnership between Seth Rogen and James Franco has officially come to a close. Rogen recently confirmed that he has not spoken to Franco in a long time and has no intention of working with him again. The statement comes years after sexual misconduct allegations against Franco first surfaced in 2018, which led to a legal settlement and effectively ended one of Hollywood’s most popular comedy duos.
Rogen made his position clear during a recent interview with The New York Times. When asked about the current status of his relationship with Franco, the 44-year-old actor and filmmaker did not hold back. He explained that while the personal details are too nuanced to discuss publicly, the proof of where things stand is easy to see.
“I honestly think the nuance of it is too personal for me to get into right now. It is a very personal thing. There’s the public-facing side of it, which I’ve spoken about, and I have the same stance publicly that I’ve had, and I think the proof is in the pudding — I have not worked with him in years.”
Rogen further clarified that nothing has changed regarding his stance since the allegations first came to light. He stated bluntly that he has no plans to revive either the friendship or the professional collaboration that defined much of his early career.
“I haven’t worked with him in a really long time and I have no plans to. I haven’t talked to him in a long time, no.”
A Partnership That Started on ‘Freaks and Geeks’
Seth Rogen and James Franco first crossed paths in 1999 on the cult television series Freaks and Geeks. At the time, Rogen was just 16 years old, while Franco was 21. Although the show lasted only one season before being canceled, it became a launchpad for both actors and marked the beginning of a collaboration that would span nearly two decades.
Over the years, they became frequent co-stars in several popular comedies. Their shared filmography includes Knocked Up (2007), Pineapple Express (2008), This Is the End (2013), and The Interview (2014). They also teamed up on the animated hit Sausage Party (2016) and The Disaster Artist (2017), the latter earning Franco a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor.
The pair were widely known as one of Hollywood’s most reliable comedy duos. Their on-screen chemistry and off-screen friendship made them fan favorites. But that all began to change in 2018.
The Allegations and Legal Fallout
Their partnership began to unravel in January 2018, shortly after Franco’s Golden Globe win for The Disaster Artist. The Los Angeles Times published a report in which five women accused the actor of sexually inappropriate behavior. Four of the women had previously attended his acting school, Studio 4.
According to the report, one of the accusers alleged that Franco used his position of authority to place students in uncomfortable sexual situations during filming exercises. Franco’s representatives denied the allegations at the time. However, the controversy intensified in October 2019 when two former students filed a class-action lawsuit against the actor.
The legal filing alleged that Franco had engaged in widespread inappropriate and sexually charged behavior towards female students. The lawsuit claimed he sexualized his power as a teacher and employer by dangling the opportunity for roles in projects. The case was eventually settled in February 2021 for $2.235 million.
While Franco denied the allegations as part of the legal settlement documents, he later acknowledged making mistakes. During an appearance on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Podcast, Franco admitted to sleeping with students and called it wrong.
Rogen’s Stance Has Not Changed Since 2021
This is not the first time Seth Rogen has spoken about the end of his partnership with Franco. Back in 2021, Rogen told The Sunday Times that it was not a coincidence that their professional relationship ended after the controversy. He made his values very clear at that time.
“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 also looked back at an interview from 2018 where he commented that he would keep working with Franco. He admitted that he regretted that statement and clarified that he has not worked with Franco since. His current comments in June 2026 simply reinforce the same position he has held for the past five years.
Franco’s Attempts to Rebuild His Career
Meanwhile, James Franco has slowly tried to return to acting. In 2024, while promoting the Italian film Hey Joe, Franco spoke with Variety about the fallout. He acknowledged that his friendship with Rogen is over despite his efforts to reconnect.
“No. I haven’t talked to Seth. 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.”
Franco reflected on the lawsuit period, saying he is grateful to be working again. He noted that during the lawsuit he was not working, but then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, which kept everyone else home as well. He seemed unsure about how much of his career pause was due to the allegations versus the global shutdown.
More recently, Franco sparked concern among fans after appearing in a series of bizarre TikTok videos. In one video, he paces around a room wearing a blue shirt and tells viewers that “some serious stuff is going on.” He insists the videos are real and not AI-generated. The strange online behavior has left many fans puzzled about his current mental state.
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Why This Matters for Hollywood Accountability
The end of the Rogen-Franco partnership stands as a significant example of how the entertainment industry has changed since the #MeToo movement. Rogen, who rarely comments on his former friend, has chosen to let his actions speak louder than words. By refusing to work with Franco again, he has drawn a clear line between personal friendship and professional ethics.
For fans who grew up watching Pineapple Express and This Is the End, the end of this comedy duo marks the close of an era. But Rogen has made it clear that some things are more important than box office hits. His stance sends a message that accountability matters, even when it means walking away from a 20-year friendship.
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