James Franco, who had been tipped for an Oscar nod for the Disaster Artist, was snubbed by Academy voters when the nominations were announced Tuesday.
The actor, 39, looked somewhat stony faced as he left a lunch meeting with Curb Your Enthusiasm star Jeff Garlin in LA hours after the awards news broke.
Meanwhile, famous attorney Gloria Allred told TMZ that there’s no presumption of innocence for alleged sex pests in the court of public opinion and if Academy members had taken allegations of sexual misconduct into account when deciding how to cast their votes then that was their prerogative.
James Franco looked stonyfaced out in LA on Tuesday, left, after failing to receive an Oscar nomination while attorney Gloria Allred, right, said Academy members had the right to take alleged sexual misconduct allegations into account when deciding how to vote
Franco was an early awards season favorite for the Disaster Artist that he directed as well as starred in, along with his brother Dave Franco, sister-in-law Alison Brie, Zac Efron and Seth Rogen.
He was considered a shoo-in for a best actor Academy Award consideration after winning the prize at the Golden Globes and Critics’ Choice Awards, although he lost out at Sunday’s Screen Actors Guild Awards to Gary Oldman for Darket Hour.
Franco was previously nominated at the Oscars in 2011 for 127 Hours and hosted the ceremony with Anne Hathaway the same year.
Franco, 39, was spotted leaving a lunch meeting with Curb Your Enthusiasm star Jeff Garlin in LA hours after the awards news broke
The two shared a warm hug before going their separate ways
Franco got a warm embrace from Garlin, 55, after lunching at Joan’s On Third in Studio City.
He was dressed down in a white t-shirt and blue jeans with a baseball cap and sunglasses.
Franco has denied the allegations made by five women in the Los Angeles Times.
However, Academy members had just eight days to vote for the nominations, ending on January 12, shortly after allegations were published in the newspaper.
The piece was based on interviews with five women, including two who had accused the actor of harassment on Twitter after he won at the Golden Globes on January 7.
Franco has denied the allegations made by five women in the Los Angeles Times. However, Academy members had just eight days to vote for the nominations, ending on January 12, shortly after the claims were published in the newspaper
Franco was dressed down in a white t-shirt and blue jeans with a baseball cap and sunglasses
Franco had been widely tipped for a best actor nod for The Disaster Artist after winning the category at the Golden Globes and the Critics Choice Awards
Speaking to TMZ, Allred did not mention Franco by name but said that generally-speaking, ‘it appears that the allegations of some women that they have been sexually assaulted, raped or subjected to some form of inappropriate sexual conduct by some stars may have had an impact on the voting.’
She went on: ‘In the court of public opinion, anyone can decide anything on any standard or conclusion they think is appropriate’ unlike in a criminal case where the accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty.
Allred added: ‘Someone who didn’t make it or thought he might have made it but for these allegations has no recourse….. There is nothing he will be able to do about it.’
The feminist firebrand has been in Park City, Utah, promoting her Netflix documentary Seeing Allred at the Sundance Film Festival.
Speaking to TMZ, Allred did not mention Franco by name but said that generally-speaking, ‘it appears that the allegations of some women that they have been sexually assaulted, raped or subjected to some form of inappropriate sexual conduct by some stars may have had an impact on the voting’
Franco won at the Critics’ Choice Movie Awards but skipped the ceremony after the allegations emerged.
He was nominated at the Screen Actors Guild Awards on Sunday but lost out to Oldman. He attended the star-studded bash but dodged the red carpet.
Alison Brie, who is married to Franco’s brother Dave, told E! News on the SAG Awards red carpet: ‘I think that above all, what we’ve always said is it remains vital that anyone that feels victimised should and does have the right to speak out and come forward. I obviously support my family.’
‘Not everything that has been reported is fully accurate, so I think we’re waiting to get all the information. But of course now is the time for listening and that’s what we’re all trying to do.’
The Oscars will be hosted by Jimmy Kimmel at the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles on March 4.
Franco starred in The Disaster Artist as The Room’s eccentric filmmaker Tommy Wiseau