ONCE megastar actor James Franco was seen disheveled but in good spirits on a night out in Paris with his girlfriend Izabel Pakzad.
James, 46, has spent much of the last decade out of the spotlight due to allegations of sexual misconduct and a subsequent lawsuit.
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The movie star and his longtime girlfriend, 31, took to the streets of Paris at 2:30am on Sunday, June 2.
In photos obtained by The US Sun, James can be seen standing with Izabel, waiting for their two undisclosed friends to arrive.
The controversial actor donned a loose, graphic sweater, baggy pants and a Cannes Film Festival hat.
He looked noticeably more rotund and sported a scraggly beard.
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The couple looked quite somber as they waited for their friends – James was leaning against the wall – but were happier when they arrived.
The group gathered on the sidewalk, dimly lit by streetlights, and chatted and laughed before moving on to the next location.
James fell behind the group, unable to keep up as they advanced.
He and his girlfriend had just made a public appearance at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival, hence the hat.
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GOING STRONG
The couple has been together since 2017, remaining strong throughout James’ fall from grace.
They attended Cannes 2024 from May 16 to 18 and at one point attended an afterparty.
James wore a tuxedo, looking heavier than fans expected, and Izabel wore a chic black dress with a tie at the leg.
The couple first went public with their relationship in 2018, making their red carpet debut the same year.
Earlier this year, the couple was photographed attending an event during Milan Fashion Week.
Allegations of sexual misconduct
In 2018, more than five women, including several students at his film school, Studio 4, accused the Disaster Artist star of sexual misconduct.
More than a year later, on October 3, 2019, two Studio 4 students filed a lawsuit against James and his partners, alleging that their film school was a scam and that students were exploited.
The lawsuit, filed in Los Angeles County Superior Court, accused James and his male collaborators of creating “an environment of sexual harassment and exploitation both inside and outside the classroom.”
The lawsuit also alleged that James and his partners “engaged in pervasive, inappropriate and sexually charged behavior with female students.”
The suit also alleged that James and his colleagues abused their power “by offering opportunities for roles in their projects.”
One student described an orgy scene with James, during which she said he allegedly removed the actresses’ vaginal pads while simulating oral sex.
At the time, Franco’s attorney, Michael Plonsker, said that “James will not only fully defend himself, but also seek damages from the plaintiffs and their attorneys for filing this obscene publicity-seeking lawsuit.”
The lawsuit reached a settlement in 2021 – James and associated entities agreed to pay $2,235,000.
Later that year, James admitted to having sexual relationships with students at his film school in an interview on The Jess Cagle Show podcast.
“Throughout my teaching, I slept with students and that was wrong,” he said.
FALLING DOWN
In 2021, the actor’s longtime collaborator Seth Rogen said he would no longer work with James due to the complaints.
In an interview with Sunday timesSeth addressed the scandal surrounding James.
The duo has appeared in several films together, such as Pineapple Express, The Disaster Artist, This Is The End, The Interview, Sausage Party and many other projects.
Sesh was asked about actress Charlyne Yi’s previous allegations that James was a “sexual predator” while Seth was “an enabler.”
He said: “What I can say is that I despise abuse and harassment, and I would never cover up or hide the actions of someone who does that, or knowingly put someone in a situation where they are around someone like that.”
Since the allegations, the once A-list star has stayed out of the spotlight.
According to his IMDB page, James has not appeared in any projects since voicing a character in the animated film Arctic Dogs in 2019.
However, he has several projects in progress and was at the 2024 Cannes Film Festival trying to sell his new film Razor’s Edge.
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This story originally appeared on The-sun.com read the full story
