The Deuce creator says he was ‘proud’ to work with James Franco despite sexual misconduct suit

Weeks after the show’s lead actor James Franco was sued for alleged sexual exploitation of students at his now defunct acting school, co-creator of HBO’s The Deuce says he was ‘proud’ to work with Franco – despite the allegations mirroring some of the series’ darkest themes.

As a show about pornography, The Deuce naturally contains scenes showing men on film sets coercing actresses into doing things on camera that make the women uncomfortable. But shortly after the first season concluded, producer and director James Franco was accused of the same on-set behavior by five women. 

The allegations first arose in an LA Times story, published in January 2018, which detailed various instances of Franco allegedly pressuring women – some of whom were students at his Studio 4 acting school – to appear topless or fully nude on camera in his independent films, reacting angrily if they refused. 

At the time, the show’s co-creator David Simon issued a statement to ensure no such behavior by Franco had been reported by anyone on set, and so felt ‘comfortable’ pushing forward with a second season.

After the show’s final episode aired on Monday, Simon sat down with RollingStone to insist he was proud of the work he created with Franco, despite the severity of the claims against The Disaster Artist star.

‘I’m absolutely proud that we continued to do the work, that James did it with us, and that we executed it at the level that we did,’ Simon assured. ‘I’ve read a lot of argument from presumably professional critics about why we should amend what we were trying to build, and we should resolve this in such a way as to be politically comforting in the moment.’ 

David Simon

Weeks after the show’s lead actor James Franco (left) was sued for alleged sexual exploitation of students at his now defunct acting school, co-creator of HBO’s The Deuce, David Simon (right) says he was ‘proud’ to work with Franco – despite the allegations mirroring some of the series’ darkest themes

As a show about pornography, The Deuce naturally contains scenes showing men on film sets coercing actresses into doing things on camera that make the women uncomfortable. But shortly after the first season concluded, producer and director James Franco was accused of the same on-set behavior by five women

As a show about pornography, The Deuce naturally contains scenes showing men on film sets coercing actresses into doing things on camera that make the women uncomfortable. But shortly after the first season concluded, producer and director James Franco was accused of the same on-set behavior by five women

Franco’s accusers said both he and his business partner, Vince Jolivette, ‘sexualized their power as a teacher and an employer by dangling the opportunity for roles in their projects.’

The 41-year-old actor was also accused several times of removing plastic guards from a number of women’s vaginas while simulating oral sex with them during orgy scenes. 

‘If I have done something wrong I will fix it. I have to,’ said Franco in response to the public outcry in response to the allegations, and in a quote that is repeated in the lawsuit. 

The allegations may have emerged nearly two years ago, but they were brought back into public consciousness this month when two of the alleged victims, Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, filed a lawsuit against Franco, coinciding with the conclusion of The Deuce’s third and final season. 

Along with the other showrunners, Simon said he could not have told the story they wanted to tell without Franco, rebutting public call that the allegations should’ve see his characters, twin brothers Vincent and Frankie Martino, recast or removed entirely from the production.

‘If you look at the piece as a whole, the idea that you could achieve this without the work James brought, as Frankie, but especially as Vincent—when you get to the end and you see what’s being said about male complicity in this entire paradigm—that’s a ridiculous premise,’ he said.

‘I thought a lot of people were pretty hyperbolic, because on a very basic level, what James is dealing with—and it’s meaningful—it’s not what we’re seeing in the other cases involving #MeToo. It simply isn’t.’

Along with the other showrunners, Simon said he could not have told the story they wanted to tell without Franco, rebutting calls that the allegations should see his characters, twin brothers Vincent and Frankie Martino, recast or removed entirely from the production

The allegations may have emerged nearly two years ago, but they were brought back into public consciousness this month when two of the alleged victims, Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, filed a lawsuit against Franco, coinciding with the conclusion of The Deuce’s third and final season

Toni Gaal

The allegations may have emerged nearly two years ago, but they were brought back into public consciousness this month when two of the alleged victims, Sarah Tither-Kaplan (left) and Toni Gaal (right), filed a lawsuit against Franco, coinciding with the conclusion of The Deuce’s third and final season

Franco’s accusers said both he and his business partner, Vince Jolivette (left), ‘sexualized their power as a teacher and an employer by dangling the opportunity for roles in their projects.’

Franco’s accusers said both he and his business partner, Vince Jolivette (left), ‘sexualized their power as a teacher and an employer by dangling the opportunity for roles in their projects.’

Simon asked his interviewer, veteran TV critic Alan Sepinwall, what was ‘absent’ from the accusations against Franco compared with the likes of Harvey Weinstein embroiled in the #MeToo scandal, to which Sepinwall responded, ‘Assault.’

Simon blasted, ‘More than that. You’re not even close. … It’s kind of embarrassing that I have to tell you. You’re the one who raised the question. Be fair with the process here. I’m making you be a stand-in for the rest of the press here.’

When asked for further clarification, Simon claims the ‘fundamental difference’ between the allegations is that the Franco ‘didn’t seek to use his position to have sex with anyone.’

‘He wasn’t using his position or status to try to solicit a sexual favor from anyone. If he had — if that were what the accusation involved — the show would not have gone on,’ Simon said. ‘We would have folded up shop and we would have not completed the show.’

Simon never attempted to outright discredit the allegations of misconduct against Franco, but says he believes the ‘proportionality got lost’.

‘I do think it’s fair to critique James, as I think James has critiqued himself, on the notion of being a little bit flippant or unaware of the power of being James Franco,’ Simon hypothesized.

‘And that when people say “yes,” they might not be saying yes if it was anyone but James Franco—that young actors and actresses could get into situations where they would say ‘yes’ and have fundamental regrets.’

‘I do think it’s fair to critique James, as I think James has critiqued himself, on the notion of being a little bit flippant or unaware of the power of being James Franco,’ Simon hypothesised. ‘And that when people say “yes,” they might not be saying yes if it was anyone but James Franco—that young actors and actresses could get into situations where they would say 'yes' and have fundamental regrets’

‘I do think it’s fair to critique James, as I think James has critiqued himself, on the notion of being a little bit flippant or unaware of the power of being James Franco,’ Simon hypothesised. ‘And that when people say “yes,” they might not be saying yes if it was anyone but James Franco—that young actors and actresses could get into situations where they would say ‘yes’ and have fundamental regrets’

Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, two of Franco’s former students at his now-defunct Studio 4 acting school, filed a class action lawsuit in Los Angeles at the beginning of October.

In addition to allegedly dangling TV and film jobs before them in exchange for sexual improprieties, the suit also claims ‘Franco’s targets’ were duped of pay for their exploitation through his acting school, which the plaintiffs argued was a fraud designed to benefit the actor and his production companies.

‘Employment opportunities for women supposedly increased when they agreed to overt sexual acts, nudity and performing in sex scenes – often in an orgy type setting,’ reads the 33-page complaint.

The former students, Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal, are among actresses who have come forward to publicly call Franco out for alleged sexually inappropriate and exploitative behavior, first after his appearance at the 2018 Golden Globes and later in a Los Angeles Times expose.

Similarly, the lawsuit accused Franco of creating ‘an environment of harassment and sexual exploitation’ at his Studio 4 acting and film academy, which was shuttered in 2017.

The class action seeks out other women who’ve had similar complaints to join the suit.

The Disaster Artist actor allegedly took advantage of his role as instructor by persuading female students to disrobe and/or engage in sexually-charged stage scenes with the suggestion they would get cast in one of his projects.

Two women who were enrolled in James Franco's former film school have sued the movie star (pictured above) claiming he and his partners dangled film and TV jobs to them in exchange for 'explicit nudity, sex' and as Franco put it, 'the pushing of boundaries'

Two women who were enrolled in James Franco’s former film school have sued the movie star (pictured above) claiming he and his partners dangled film and TV jobs to them in exchange for ‘explicit nudity, sex’ and as Franco put it, ‘the pushing of boundaries’

The former students, Sarah Tither-Kaplan (pictured above) and Toni Gaal, are among actresses who have come forward to publicly call Franco out for alleged sexually inappropriate and exploitative behavior

The former students, Sarah Tither-Kaplan (pictured above) and Toni Gaal, are among actresses who have come forward to publicly call Franco out for alleged sexually inappropriate and exploitative behavior

James and his partners in the school, Vince Jolivette and Jay Davis, through the academy and their various production companies opted to ‘sexualize their power and fame’ by dangling opportunities to students.

Both Jolivette and Davis, who are cousins, are also named as defendants in the complaint. They are alleged to have recruited women along with ‘various other ‘scouts’ tasked with the job of seeking out young, naive women between the ages of 17 [and] 24 because these women would not know how the film industry functioned,’ the suit claims.

The school’s two-year program promised to teach students the Meisner method, ‘as practiced by Franco while giving them the ability to audition and be hired as talent for RabbitBandini Productions,’ the suit claims, making a reference to one of the actor’s production firms, all the while ‘sexually exploiting and humiliating female studens and actors.’

The complaint alleges that monthly tuition fees were used to fund Franco’s productions, which violates California’s ‘pay for play’ regulations, and lured students in by ‘providing them false hopes of acquiring job opportunities.’

The alleged incidents are purported to have taken place in 2014, the same year the school opened in Los Angeles, as well as with a location in New York. Tither-Kaplan enrolled in the school in February of that year and Gaal in April.

Casting couch? The Deuce actor (seen above on the show) allegedly took advantage of his role as instructor by persuading female students to disrobe and/or engage in sexually-charged stage scenes with the suggestion they would get cast in one of his projects

Casting couch? The Deuce actor (seen above on the show) allegedly took advantage of his role as instructor by persuading female students to disrobe and/or engage in sexually-charged stage scenes with the suggestion they would get cast in one of his projects

According to documents related to the case, Franco offered roles in films he was either producing or directing in exchange for the actresses performing explicit scenes or engaging in sexually-charged auditions for him.

Tither-Kaplan and Gaal’s suit alleged that the Palo Alto actor/writer eschewed current film industry guidelines for nude scenes.

Documents from the case say that Franco ‘routinely pressured to engage in simulated sex acts that went far beyond the standards in the industry.’

Gaal claims that she was denied entry to a special ‘sex scenes master class’ for expressing her concern over the class. ‘She was told by a male employee to ‘grow thicker skin’ and stop being so sensitive,’ the suit claims.

Meanwhile, Tither-Kaplan says she was permitted to join the class and was also given roles in Franco productions, but only after required to shoot nude scenes or sex scenes.

In one particularly explicit incident, Tither-Kaplan alleges that during a scene of an orgy Franco removed plastic genital guards from the performers ‘vaginas’ in order to ‘simulate oral sex on them.’

‘Plaintiff Tither-Kaplan’s willingness to push boundaries and do whatever it took to create a scene that Franco would approve of led to additional opportunities (which were then revoked after she voiced concerns),’ the lawsuit claims.

During their time at the school, Tither-Kaplan and Gaal paid monthly tuition of about $300.

While they were previously promised exclusive auditions for Franco’s independent projects, the women say the school made the auditions open to other actors as well.

While initial tuition was only in the hundreds of dollars, the women said the school’s additional ‘master classes’ could cost as much as $2000 a piece.

Among these offerings was a $750 course specializing in ‘sex scenes.’

Tither-Kaplan, pictured above, was among the first alleged victims to come forward after Franco's appearance at the 2018 Golden Globes, where he walked away with a win for best actor in a musical or comedy for his role in 'The Disaster Artist, and wore a 'Time's Up,' pin

Tither-Kaplan, pictured above, was among the first alleged victims to come forward after Franco’s appearance at the 2018 Golden Globes, where he walked away with a win for best actor in a musical or comedy for his role in ‘The Disaster Artist, and wore a ‘Time’s Up,’ pin

Tither-Kaplan's tweet pictured above was among several made after Franco's appearance at the Golden Globes, alleging sexual improprieties and exploitation

Tither-Kaplan’s tweet pictured above was among several made after Franco’s appearance at the Golden Globes, alleging sexual improprieties and exploitation

Also speaking out against Franco after his appearance at the 2018 Golden Globes was Violet Paley (pictured above) who alleged in a tweet that the actor 'pushed my head down in a car towards your exposed penis'

Also speaking out against Franco after his appearance at the 2018 Golden Globes was Violet Paley (pictured above) who alleged in a tweet that the actor ‘pushed my head down in a car towards your exposed penis’

Accusation: Paley said: '& 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?'

Accusation: Paley said: ‘& 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?’

According to the suit, prospective sex scene master class students had to audition via video tape so that Franco could ‘review the material’ on his own time.

By giving Franco the tapes, however, they were required to sign away their rights to said recordings.

During the sex scene workshop, the women alleged that ‘often young and inexperienced females.. were routinely pressured to engage in simulated sex acts that went far beyond the standards in the industry.’

The women in the class are said to have been denied the protection of nudity riders or other film industry guidelines pertaining to sex scenes.

The lawsuit recalls Franco’s appearance at the 2018 Golden Globes, where he walked away with a win for best actor in a musical or comedy for his role in ‘The Disaster Artist, and wore a ‘Time’s Up,’ pin, prompting the initial allegations of sexual improprieties and exploitation made against him.

‘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!’ tweeted Tither-Kaplan. who was among the first alleged vicitms at the time.

She at that point had appeared in short films with Franco for over three years after enrolling at his school.

Also speaking out against Franco was Violet Paley, who tweeted: ‘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?’

Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal are seeking monetary damages and the destruction of any video recordings submitted by students.

Read more at DailyMail.co.uk