why was james franco cancelled

James Franco was "cancelled" primarily due to multiple allegations of sexual misconduct that surfaced in 2018. Several women, who were his former acting students or mentees, accused him of inappropriate or sexually exploitative behavior while he was running his acting school and film projects. The allegations included claims of pressuring students into nude auditions, simulating sex acts without proper consent, and manipulating students by promising career opportunities in exchange for sex. Franco denied the allegations at the time but later settled a lawsuit related to these claims for over $2.2 million. The fallout from these accusations led to a significant career downturn for Franco, with him largely disappearing from the spotlight for several years. He has since spoken openly about the impact, expressing gratitude for the forced pause, using it as a chance to change and reset his priorities.