James Franco faces more accusations over sexual misconduct

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Several women have made further claims of inappropriate sexual behavior against James Franco in a Los Angeles Times report on Thursday, just days after the actor triumphed at the Golden Globes.

The paper published allegations by four former students at the film school Franco founded who accused him of exploitative behavior including during nude scenes. A fifth woman accused Franco of pressuring her into performing fellatio while the pair were in a relationship two years ago.

Several women have made further claims of inappropriate sexual behavior against James Franco in a Los Angeles Times report. /Screenshot

The 39-year-old actor and his lawyers have denied the accusations.

Sarah Tither-Kaplan, a former student at Franco's Studio 4 school in North Hollywood, was one of a number of women who took to Twitter in anger after he accepted a Best Actor award for "The Disaster Artist" Sunday night, wearing a "Time's Up" pin in solidarity with victims of sexual harassment.

It "was like a slap in my face," she told the paper.

Tither-Kaplan, whom Franco cast as a prostitute in 2015 in an unreleased film, described to the Times taking part in a nude orgy "bonus" scene in which Franco simulated oral sex on several other actresses, and said he had removed a clear plastic guard that covered their vaginas.

She also claims she and her female co-stars were asked to appear topless and dance around Franco in an unscripted scene.

Screenshot via Twitter

On Wednesday night’s “Late Night With Seth Meyers,” Franco said the tweets by Paley and Tither-Kaplan were “not accurate” but he supported the women’s right to express their perspectives. A lawyer for Franco didn’t respond to queries Thursday. Franco’s attorney, Michael Plonsker, disputed the allegations to the Times.

Actress Ally Sheedy also said in a since-deleted tweet that Franco was an example of why she left the movie business. Franco on Tuesday told Stephen Colbert on “The Late Show” that he had “no idea” why Sheedy said that. He directed her in a 2014 off-Broadway play.

Several of Franco’s collaborators defended him from some of the claims. Vince Jolivette, Franco’s production partner at Rabbit Bandini Productions, which ran Studio 4, said the school “was always run professionally” and that he was investigating the matter.

In a statement provided by Franco’s publicist, Robin Baum, Cynthia Huffman, casting director of “The Long Home” said Tither-Kaplan’s description of the orgy scene was inaccurate.

Source(s): AP ,AFP