James Franco Cut From Vanity Fair’s Hollywood Issue Cover After Sexual Misconduct Claims

Whatever awards season momentum James Franco and “The Disaster Artist” might have had came to a swift end at the Golden Globes as the multi-hyphenate was accepting his Best Actor award. Called out on Twitter for sexual misconduct during the ceremony, a few days later the full details of the allegations of sexual misconduct against Franco emerged. After a couple of public appearances where he said the claims were “not accurate,” while also supporting the #MeToo and #TimesUp movements, Franco has stepped out of the spotlight. And been scrubbed from it too.

Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood Issue is coming up, and each year the publication gathers together an array of big stars for its glamorous cover. Among those making the grade this year are Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, Claire Foy, Gal Gadot, Harrison Ford, Robert De Niro, Michael B. Jordan, Zendaya, and more. However, while James Franco was photographed by the legendary Annie Liebovitz, and interviewed for the magazine, he was excised when the issue went to print.

“We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him,” a spokesperson told THR.

While Vanity Fair likely had to move fast once the allegations against Franco emerged, the job of moving him out of photo likely wasn’t too difficult. As you might imagine, it would be nearly impossible to wrangle all those stars into the room at the same. Leibovitz often shoots the stars separately, and then they are composited together afterward. So, dumping Franco was probably just a matter a removing a few Photoshop layers. Nonetheless, the decision shows how the ongoing #MeToo and #TimesUp movements continue to have lasting ripple effects in the industry.

12 extraordinary stars, one very momentous year. The 2018 Hollywood portfolio is here: https://t.co/6PfsFsPzK1 pic.twitter.com/MfRsp2y9Z3

— VANITY FAIR (@VanityFair) January 25, 2018