Why Seth Rogen and James Franco ended their 25-year friendship

As two of comedy's most celebrated talents, Seth Rogen and James Franco have a long history of harassing each other and working together. But that will end in 2018.

The Pineapple Express Actor first worked together on the show in 1999 Freaks and geeks when both had just started in Hollywood. Since then, the two have become a dynamic duo, starring together in successful comedies since 2007 Impregnated until 2017 The Disaster Artist.

However, in 2018, five women, including four of his acting students, accused Franco of sexually inappropriate behavior Los Angeles Times Article. The following year, two of the four former students filed a sexual misconduct lawsuit against the actor, which he settled two years later.

The allegations appeared to cause a rift between Franco and his longtime friend, Rogen said The Sunday Times in May 2021 that he had no plans to work with Franco in the future.

“What I can say is that I abhor abuse and harassment and would never cover up or hide the actions of anyone who does it or knowingly put someone in a situation where they are with someone like that,” Rogen said.

Three years later, Franco admitted diversity in October 2024 that his friendship with Rogen was never restored.

“I haven’t spoken to Seth. I love Seth, we had 20 great years together but I think it's over,” he said.

So what happened between Seth Rogen and James Franco? Here's all about why their 25-year friendship came to an end.

How did the friendship between Rogen and Franco begin?

Rogen and Franco first met on the set of Freaks and geeks when Rogen was 17 and Franco was 22. After that, the two didn't work together again for some time until they met again in 2008 Pineapple ExpressRogen admitted on CBS The early show.

“We didn’t have a fight or anything; he was just very successful after that.” freaks and geeks, and I just sat on my couch and researched this movie for two years,” he joked, referring to the film's story, which is about two stoners.

The two have since worked together in 2013 This is the end2014s The interview2016 Sausage party and 2017 The Disaster Artist.

“In general, almost every year here I have a film with one Franco, culminating this year with two Francos,” Rogen told SXSW at the 2017 festival alongside Franco and his brother Dave Franco, who also starred The Disaster Artist.

When it came to how far the two would go to engage in their comedy, Franco and Rogen admitted in a question and answer session with Moviefone that they were so comfortable with each other that they would be open to anything , which got a laugh.

“I think the lesson you taught me is that you can do anything if it's funny,” Franco said.

What was Franco accused of?

The duo was nominated at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards for their work as a director and producer The Disaster ArtistIt was the last time Franco and Rogen were photographed together in public.

In the days following the show, Franco was accused of inappropriate sexual behavior by five women, including four former students. The women claimed in a Los Angeles Times Article in which the actor abused his power as a teacher at the film school he founded to manipulate them into inappropriate actions, including allegedly removing security guards during the filming of an oral sex scene.

“I realized pretty quickly that you shouldn't say 'no' to this guy,” said Sarah Tither-Kaplan, one of the women. “I feel like there was an abuse of power and that there was a culture of exploitation of non-celebrity women and a culture of replaceability of women.”

Franco's lawyer denied all allegations at the time and also referred to Franco's appearance The Late Show with Stephen Colbert Earlier this week, he described the allegations as a formal denial.

However, more than a year later, in October 2019, Tither-Kaplan and another of the women, Toni Gaal, filed a lawsuit against Franco, accusing him of “widespread inappropriate and sexually charged behavior toward female students.” Day laid,” the lawsuit says.

Franco again denied the allegations and reached a settlement with the women in February 2021, agreeing to pay $2,235,000.

Why did Rogen say he would never work with Franco again?

When Franco was first accused, Rogen said in an April 2018 interview that he would continue to work with the actor vulture.

“The truth is that my perspective on this is the least relevant,” he said. “I’m friends with these people and I’m a guy. All in all, that makes me the last person who should be talking about this.”

However, three years later, Rogen backtracked on his comments and even admitted that he regretted what he said, as well as a joke from 2014 Saturday Night Live In it, he said he decided to play a prank on Franco by posing as a girl on Instagram and telling him he was “much young.”

“I look back at a joke I made Saturday Night Live in 2014 and I really regret making that joke,” Rogen said The Sunday Times. “To be honest, it was a terrible joke. And I also look back at the interview in 2018 where I mentioned that I would continue to work with James, and the truth is that I haven't and I don't plan to at the moment.”

He added that it was “no coincidence” that his professional relationship with Franco came to an end, adding that the situation also affected his personal relationship.

“I don’t know if I can define it right now during this interview,” he said of their friendship. “I can say it, um, you know, it changed a lot of things in our relationship and our dynamic.”

How did Franco react to the end of their friendship?

Later that year, Franco appeared on SiriusXM radio, where he admitted that he still “loves” Rogen and that the two have not had a single argument in their 20 years together.

“He was my absolute closest work friend and co-worker, we just got along well,” Franco said. “What he said is true – we don’t work together and we have no plans to work together.”

The actor said that while it was “hurtful” to hear Rogen say their professional relationship was over, he understood because “he had to answer for me because I stayed silent.”

In an October 2024 interview with diversityFranco shared that the status of his friendship with Rogen had not changed and the couple's relationship appeared to be beyond repair.

“And not for lack of trying,” he said. “I told him how much he meant to me.”