Steven Universe star Charlyne Yi says ‘sexual predator’ James Franco ‘bribed’ her over ‘abuse’ concerns
Charlyne Yi (L) and James Franco. (Getty Images)
Charlyne Yi has accused James Franco of being a “sexual predator” and Seth Rogan of enabling his behaviour.
Yi claimed she tried to break her contract and quit Franco’s 2017 film The Disaster Artist, in which she played Safoya, because “James Franco is a sexual predator”.
In a bombshell Instagram post, the Steven Universe voice actor alleged that when she raised her concerns, she was offered a “bribe” to stay on.
“They tried to bribe me with a bigger acting role,” she wrote.
“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***king sexual predator.
“They minimised and said Franco being a predator was so last year and that he changed… when I literally heard of him abusing new women that week.”
Yi also accused Seth Rogen of enabling Franco’s alleged impropriety. “Seth also did a sketch on SNL with Franco enabling Franco preying on children,” Yi wrote, “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.”
View this post on Instagram
Charlyne Yi calls out Seth Rogen for ‘enabling’ James Franco
In early 2018, James Franco was accused by five women of sexual misconduct at his now-shuttered Studio Four acting school.
Franco, 42, settled a suit levelled by two of the five women who shared accounts of his “sexually inappropriate or exploitative behaviour” in February 2021. His lawyers previously insisted such claims were “false and inflammatory”.
Franco’s playbook, Yi alleged, was one of power plays and emotional manipulation.
“Predators will perform empathy, gaslight, and say they will do better,” Yi wrote, “all in order to protect themselves and continue to harm others. Enablers are just as toxic and are abusers, too.
“Disgusted by white men choosing power over protecting children and women from predators. Educate, organise, and dismantle corruption in your circles and in the law.”
“White men saying it’s not their responsibility when holding Franco accountable, or when holding Seth Rogen and enablers accountable.
Filmmakers James Franco (L) and Seth Rogen. (Michael Kovac/Getty Images for Moet & Chandon)
“Then whose responsibility is it? The women and children who have PTSD from Franco? Or the future targets of abuse?
“White men perform infantilism when it comes to sacrificing their white supremacy and patriarchy because they actually don’t give a f**k.”
Neither Franco nor Rogen has yet to publicly respond to Yi’s allegations and did not immediately respond to requests for comment from PinkNews.
