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ACTOR James Franco has been sued by two women who claim he exploited them into topless auditions and performing on camera in orgy-like settings. The claims were made in a lawsuit filed in Los Angel…
ACTOR James Franco has been sued by two women who claim he exploited them into topless auditions and performing on camera in orgy-like settings. The claims were made in a lawsuit filed in Los Angeles on Thursday, accusing Franco and the acting and film school he founded of pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable in Hollywood sex scenes.
Franco and the acting and film school he founded are accused of pushing the boundaries of what's acceptable for sex scenesTwo former students, Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, claim this approach was intended to create of pipeline of women who could be exploited sexually by the 41-year-old and his male collaborators. The women say in the lawsuit that students at Franco's Studio 4 school were led to believe roles in Franco's films would be available to those who went along. Such actions, the suit says, "led to an environment of harassment and sexual exploitation both in and out of the class.”Studio 4 opened in 2014 and closed in 2017, having had branches in New York and Los Angeles.The suit gives details on the 127 Hours actor's master class in sex scenes, which the two women said cost $750. According to the claims, the class began by encouraging female student actors to appear topless, then performing sex scenes. From there, the suit claims, actors were asked to then advance to the likes of orgies and full nudity – all without guidelines and closed sets, which are industry standard for sex scenes. The two women said prospective students had to audition on tape so that Franco could later review the material. This approach preyed upon “often young and inexperienced females” who “were routinely pressured to engage in simulated sex acts that went far beyond the standards in the industry,” the suit claims.It was also stated that individuals were also encouraged to sign away their rights to these recordings. Gaal said she recorded an audition but was kept out of the class after questioning its exploitative nature, while Tither-Kaplan made her accusations public last year. After taking the master class, Tither-Kaplan said she was cast in films by production company Rabbit Bandini, which is run by Franco and a business partner, Vince Jolivette, who helped set up Studio 4. Tither-Kaplan – who said she had to appear nude or in sex scenes for some of the roles she was later cast in – says she now recognises these roles were a direct result of her willingness to accept Franco's exploitative behavior without complaining. As well as seeking damages, the lawsuit asks for an apology from Franco and his partners, and the handover or destruction of video of the plaintiffs.Academy Award nominee Franco addressed sexual misconduct stories against him in a Late Show interview with Stephen Colbert last year, calling them inaccurate. He said he was willing to make amends where necessary, though, adding: “If there’s restitution to be made, I will make it.After winning a Golden Globe for The Disaster Artist, Franco was called out on Twitter when the #MeToo movement was at its height. This outcry surrounded a report where five women, including Tither-Kaplan, accused Franco of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior. In 2014, Franco received criticism when messages he had exchanged over Instagram with a 17-year-old girl were shared online. In a statement on Thursday, Franco’s attorney, Michael Plonsker, said: "This is not the first time that these claims have been made and they have already been debunked.Moment cruel mum tosses newborn with one hand while smokingNOW YOU KNOWTerrifying moment massive grizzly bear creeps up behind two men fishing'YES TO THE DRESS'"We have not had an opportunity to review the ill-informed Complaint in depth since it was leaked to the press before it was filed and our client has yet to even be served. "James will not only fully defend himself, but will also seek damages from the plaintiffs and their attorneys for filing this scurrilous publicity seeking lawsuit."James Franco says he supports 'Time's Up' campaign as he denies allegations on The Late Show with Stephen ColbertThe actor, who was nominate for an Academy Award for his role in 127 Hours, has spoken out about accusations in the pastFranco, who starred in The Interview with Seth Rogen, has previously shown support for combatting sexual misconduct in the entertainment industryWe pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at
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