James Franco says he has ‘changed’ following sexual assault allegations: ‘Being told you’re bad is painful’

James Franco said he has changed following sexual assault allegations that shut down his Hollywood career. 

The actor, 46, who was dumped by pal Seth Rogan after he was sued by five young women in 2019, accusing the him of abusing his power as a teacher and mentor,  said the scandal caused him to reconsider his priorities. 

‘Being told you’re bad is painful,’ he told Variety in an extensive interview published on Friday.  

‘But ultimately, that’s kind of what I needed to just stop going the way I was going.’

The Oscar nominee settled the lawsuit in 2021, paying out $2.235 million to the women. 

After being shunned by Hollywood and then going through the Covid-19 lockdown, the Karantina star said he made good use of his free time. 

‘Whatever had been going on with me before, I had to change my whole way of life.’ he contended.

‘So I am proud of the kind of work I did during that time. And yeah, I wasn’t working in movies, but I certainly was doing a lot of work to change who I was.’

‘Up until, let’s say the past eight years [before the hiatus] I had a good career,’ he told the publication. ‘But it was very hard for me to enjoy it.

‘I was a workaholic; I was going all the time. And even when there were good moments – like a movie that people liked or, I don’t know, [being] nominated for an award or whatever it might be, whatever good moments along the way that I wish I could have appreciated – I just didn’t because I had this weird thing where it was just like, I always need more.’

‘Ultimately, I think I’m kind of grateful because it did afford me a chance to just do whatever private work and really change what I need to change,’ he said.

‘I don’t want it to sound like platitudes, but honestly, this is my experience. Sometimes life delivers things to you, and the delivery system is so painful. It really hurts,’ the 127 Hours star admitted.

‘But ultimately, from the big picture that I’m talking about, maybe it’s for the best. Who am I to say?’ 

‘Being told you’re bad is painful,’ Franco told Variety. ‘But ultimately, that’s kind of what I needed to just stop going the way I was going’; (Pictured in Milan in January)

The actor said the scandal allowed him to work on himself. ‘I had to change my whole way of life. So I am proud of the kind of work I did during that time. And yeah, I wasn’t working in movies, but I certainly was doing a lot of work to change who I was’  (Pictured in 2022)

He was sued by five young women in 2019, accusing the him of abusing his power as a teacher and mentor. He settled the lawsuit in 2021; Pictured October 25

Franco has been working in Europe the interim.  His latest film, Hey Joe, which debuted October 25 at the Rome Film Festival. 

He stars as the title character, an alcoholic WWII soldier who returns to Italy to find the son he fathered there before going home to his native New Jersey. 

The actor also starred in The Price of Money: A Largo Winch Adventure, which has been released in France, but not the US. 

Franco has been focusing on other projects such as drawing and painting. He has also launched a streetwear fashion line with his friend Kyle Lindgren.