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In a recent Esquire interview, Seth Rogen maintained his characteristic brevity when addressing the dissolution of his two-decade friendship with James Franco, simply stating, "I absorb so little media that it really wasn't on my radar." This terse response came four months after Franco's candid revelation at the Rome Film Festival that their friendship had reached its conclusion.
Their partnership, which began on the set of "Freaks and Geeks" in 1999, spawned numerous successful collaborations including "Pineapple Express" (2008), "This Is the End" (2013), and "The Disaster Artist" (2017). As Franco told Variety in October 2024, "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."
The shift in their relationship became apparent in 2021 when Rogen publicly distanced himself from Franco following allegations of sexual misconduct. "I despise abuse and harassment and I would never cover or conceal the actions of someone doing it," Rogen declared to The Sunday Times, marking a significant departure from his previous stance of continued collaboration.
The allegations against Franco emerged in 2018 when five women, including four former acting students, came forward in the Los Angeles Times with accusations of sexually inappropriate behavior. Two students later filed a lawsuit, which was settled in 2021. Franco has consistently denied any wrongdoing.
Looking back, Rogen's evolution in addressing the situation is notable. In 2014, he made light of the allegations during a Saturday Night Live monologue, a decision he later regretted. "I very much regret making that joke," he admitted to London's The Times in 2021. "It was a terrible joke, honestly."
Today, both actors have moved in different directions. While Franco attempts to maintain an open door for reconciliation, Rogen's succinct response to Esquire suggests a definitive end to what was once Hollywood's most prolific creative partnerships. As an insider familiar with both actors noted, "Their separation represents more than just a personal rift – it's the end of an era in comedy filmmaking."
