The '127 Hours' actor is facing new legal accusations that he allegedly created 'an environment of harassment and sexual exploitation' in his acting class.
- October 4, 2019
AceShowbiz - James Franco has been hit with fresh sexual exploitation allegations from two of his former acting students.
Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gael claim the "127 Hours" star pressured students to strip off for auditions at the Studio 4 school, which he co-founded.
The accusers also claim Franco and other teachers and instructors engaged in "inappropriate and sexually charged behaviour" towards female students, and created "an environment of harassment and sexual exploitation."
According to the documents obtained by TMZ, Franco offered up roles in independent films he was producing or directing for daring to bare all and appear in sex scenes.
Tither-Kaplan and Gael claim female students were "pressured to engage in simulated sex acts that went far beyond the standards in the industry."
Gael claims she was denied entry into a sex scenes masterclass after voicing concerns, and her fellow plaintiff, who landed roles in Franco productions, alleges the star removed actresses' genital guards while he "simulated oral sex on them" during an orgy scene.
The New York Times initially reported the lawsuit.
Franco was previously accused of inappropriate behaviour and abuse of power by five women. He has called the allegations "inaccurate."
