New York Times cancels event with James Franco after allegations of sexual misconduct

James Franco's upcoming TimesTalk event with The New York Times has been cancelled after the actor was accused of sexual harassment.

The actor, who won the Golden Globe award for lead actor in a motion picture, comedy or musical for his portrayal of Tommy Wiseau in "The Disaster Artist", has been accused of sexual misconduct by multiple women on Twitter.

Franco, who walked the Golden Globes red carpet wearing Time's Up pin, is yet to respond to the allegations against him.

In a statement to Variety, the Times said, "The event was intended to be a discussion of the making of the film, 'The Disaster Artist'."

"Given the controversy surrounding recent allegations, we're no longer comfortable proceeding in that vein," it added.

On Twitter, Franco was accused of misconduct by actor Violet Paley, who wrote, "Remember the time you pushed my head down in a car towards your exposed p***s and that other time you told my friend to come to your hotel when she was 17? After you had already been caught doing that to a different 17 year old?"

Cute #TIMESUP pin James Franco. Remember the time you pushed my head down in a car towards your exposed penis & that other time you told my friend to come to your hotel when she was 17? After you had already been caught doing that to a different 17 year old?

— Violet Paley (@VioletPaley) January 8, 2018

another reason it’s been hard to come forward about this. we did have a consensual relationship as well. unfortunately & fortunately, there are others who went through this same thing as me with him, and worse. I’m glad I am strong enough to speak up for all of us despite trolls

— Violet Paley (@VioletPaley) January 9, 2018

Paley also tweeted that Franco had, several weeks ago, apologised over the phone for past conduct to herself and "a few other girls".

A couple weeks ago, James offered me & a few other girls an overdue, annoyed, convenient phone “apology”. I don’t accept, but maybe some other people’s lives would be made easier if he donated all of his earnings from “The Disaster Artist” to @RAINN01.

— Violet Paley (@VioletPaley) January 9, 2018

Another actor, Sarah Tither-Kaplan, a former student of Franco, said on Twitter that the actor exploited her with nude scenes in his films.

Hey James Franco, nice #timesup pin at the #GoldenGlobes , remember a few weeks ago when you told me the full nudity you had me do in two of your movies for $100/day wasn't exploitative because I signed a contract to do it? Times up on that!

— Sarah Tither-Kaplan (@sarahtk) January 8, 2018