Charlyne Yi Called James Franco A ‘Sexual Predator’ On Instagram
Charlyne Yi called out James Franco and Seth Rogen on Instagram, calling Franco a “sexual predator” and Rogen an enabler of Franco’s behavior.
Yi was cast alongside Franco and Rogen in 2017’s The Disaster Artist, which Franco directed and Rogen produced, claiming producers tried to “bribe” her when she looked to exit the movie because of Franco.
35-year-old Yi said in her Instagram post caption: “Seth Rogen was one of the producers on this film so he definitely knows about the bribe and why I quit. Seth also did a sketch on SNL with Franco enabling Franco preying on children. Right after Franco was caught. Franco has a long history of preying on children. This is on top all the corrupt laws that protect predators made by violent white men.”
She continued, “Denying/gaslighting is a tactic that abusers and enablers use that is psychological violence, & has serious affects: the survivor loses sense of reality/intuition to protect self from targeted again, PTSD, suicidal thoughts/suicide, etc. This month is Sexual Assault Awareness Month when it should really be something men educate themselves about their whole life and learn how to be there & protect women, nonbinary, trans, etc—who are targeted.”
Rogen’s SNL appearance joked about his “prank” on Franco, where he said he “posed as a girl on Instagram, told him I was way young. He seemed unfazed. I have a date to meet him at the Ace Hotel.”
In 2018, five women — including four of Franco’s acting students — came forward to accuse 42-year-old Franco of sexual misconduct in the past, Page Six reports. This past January, a settlement agreement was reached in a lawsuit that alleged the actor of intimidating his students into gratuitous and exploitative sexual situations.
Yi’s Instagram post claimed: “When I tried to break legal contract & quit Disaster Artist because James Franco is a sexual predator, they tried to bribe me with a bigger acting role. I cried and told them that that was the exact opposite of what I wanted, that I didn’t feel safe working with a f—-ing sexual predator.”
She went on to say that “enablers are just as toxic as abusers too. Disgusted by white men choosing power over protecting children and women from predators.” Yi said she was speaking out now because April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month.
The Disaster Artist came out before the 2018 report, but according to Page Six, Yi appeared to be alluding on Instagram to a 2014 incident involving Franco allegedly contacting a 17-year-old girl about a hotel meet-up. Franco later said he acted like a “gentleman” and didn’t know the girl’s age.
Yi and Rogen also worked together on the 2007’s Knocked Up.
