Actress Charlyne Yi is calling our James Franco for being a “sexual predator” in a series of new Instagram posts.
Charlyne, best known for her role in the 2007 comedy Knocked Up is also accusing fellow actor and comedian Seth Rogan of enabling his friend’s behavior.
RELATED STORIES
TW: This article contains depictions or discussions of predatory abuse, sexual misconduct, and suicide, and may be triggering to some readers.
Actor and filmmaker James Franco has had accusations of sexual misconduct surrounding him since 2018.
Five of them told the Los Angeles Times in January of 2018 that the 42-year-old had been “sexually exploitative” with them while they were students at his acting school.
Two students recalled him becoming angry when women wouldn’t go topless.
A third student alleged that, during a nude orgy scene, he “removed protective plastic guards covering other actress’ vaginas while simulating oral sex on them.”
Two of the women filed lawsuits against the actor. James called the allegations “false and inflammatory,” and the claims were settled in February.
Now, actress Charlyne Yi, who appeared alongside Seth Rogen in the 2007 comedy *Knocked Up* is calling out both James and Seth on Instagram.
In a series of posts, Charlyne explained how she tried to break her legal contract while working on 2017’s The Disaster Artist (produced by both James and Seth) because “James Franco is a sexual predator.”
She explained that people attempted to “bribe me with a bigger acting role.”
“I cried and told them that was the opposite of what I wanted, that I didn’t feel safe working with a [expletive] sexual predator.”
She continued: “They minimized and said Franco being a predator was so last yr and that he changed… when I literally heard of him abusing new women that week.”
“Enablers are just as toxic and are abusers too,” she added.
“White men saying it’s not their responsibility when holding Franco accountable, or when holding Seth Rogan and enablers accountable.”
Charlyne’s captioned added to the story, saying:
“Seth Rogen was one of the producers on this film so he definitely knows about the bribe and why I quit. Seth also did a sketch on SNL with Franco enabling Franco preying on children. Right after Franco was caught. Franco has a long history of preying on children. This is on top all the corrupt laws that protect predators made by violent white men.”
Her original post concluded by explaining why she chose this time to speak out about her experience.
“This month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month when it should really be something men educate themselves about their whole life and learn how to be there & protect women, nonbinary, trans, etc—who are targeted.”
The following day, Charlyne continued on Instagram.
In addition to posting more slides on her timeline, the actress wrote: “Women do not feel safe to speak out when media and jurisdiction empowers powerful rich predators, and do not care to invest in educating themselves with tools to support survivors. —There are many women (some who were preyed on & groomed as children ) who have not publicly shared about Franco. Please support the people who have.”
She concluded her caption with a series of edits.
“Edits: gaslighting can also lead to self-blame and denial in which the survivor forgets or minimizes the abuse, continuing relationships with abusers, and not being able to see redflags from predators who may target them.”
Charlyne’s attached post read:
“The reporters who interviewed the women that spoke out against Franco should have been trauma-informed, educated themselves on psychopaths, predatory behavior, survivors with eptsd/ptsd, and made a foundation to support them.”
“Gaslighting is incredibly dangerous and violent & can lead to the survivor to lose self esteem/intuition to protect self from being targeted again,” she continued.
“And this is already on top of the life long PTSD, flashbacks, night terrors, other health issues, needing financial support with their names slaundered[sic], day to day worrying of being sexually harassed, assaulted, or murdered, and all the laws that protect men from accountability. Bc they are made by men.”
Neither James Franco or Seth Rogan have responded to Charlyne’s allegations.
