James Franco, who was expected to land a nomination for Best Actor at this year’s Academy Awards, which is widely believed to be a response to allegations of sexual misconduct which have been made against him over the past few weeks.
Franco won the Golden Globe Award for best actor in a musical or comedy last week for his performance as Tommy Wiseau in The Room. He also won Critic’s Choice at the Screen Actors Guild Awards, but wasn’t present to receive the award. Several women spoke out after his Golden Globe win, accusing him of a sexual misconduct. The women alleged hypocrisy on Franco’s part for wearing a ‘Time’s Up’ badge despite the fact he himself was subject to a whisper network accusing him of harassment.
https://twitter.com/sarahtk/status/950165990213496832
Despite the fact many assume that the allegations are the sole reason Franco didn’t get a nod from the Academy, it’s actually plausible they were never considering him at all. Voting closed on January 12 – just one day after Los Angeles Times published a story in which five women alleged sexually inappropriate behaviour by Franco. It’s likely the majority of votes were already in at that point – though it’s possible social media discussion before the report may have trickled through.
That being said, this could stand as proof that Academy voters really do push their votes through at the last minute, which is also entirely plausible.
Social media has been abuzz with people speculating on Franco’s omission, with some also pointing out the fact that other men with allegations of harassment and abuse surrounding them were also nominated.
https://twitter.com/ira/status/955800738692608001
me talking to the academy after snubbing James Franco pic.twitter.com/qtfH1M6H4I
— 𝚑𝚒𝚜𝚙𝚊𝚗𝚒𝚌 𝚙𝚒𝚡𝚒𝚎 𝚍𝚛𝚎𝚊𝚖 𝚐𝚒𝚛𝚕 (@mathewrodriguez) January 23, 2018
Im not a James Franco fan in the least but he is being snubbed for his alleged behavior why is Gary Oldman on the list? #OscarNoms
— Matthew Kopil (@MKopil) January 23, 2018
https://twitter.com/kyndallrene/status/955802010820988929
For his part, Franco did a little late night show tour to defend himself against the allegations. Not outright denying the claims, he said he had his “side of the story” but said he broadly agreed with people who had been “underrepresented” getting their voices out. Heres what he told Seth Meyers:
There are stories that need to get out. There are people that need to be heard. I have my own side of this story, but I believe in, you know, these people that have been underrepresented getting their stories out enough that I will hold back things that I could say just because I believe in it that much, and if I have to take a knock because I’m not going to try and actively refute things, then I will. Because I believe in it that much.
