James Franco agrees to settle more than $2 million in sexual misconduct lawsuit

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Actor James Franco has agreed to pay more than $2 million to settle a sexual misconduct lawsuit brought by several of his former students, according to court documents seen by NBC News.

In 2019, Franco was sued in a class action lawsuit by two former students who attended Franco’s Studio 4 School of Acting, which he directed from 2014 to 2017.

Sarah Tether Kaplan and Tony Gall alleged in their class action lawsuit that they were forced to film public sexual acts by Franco and his associates.

She accused respondents of seeking to “sexualize their power and fame by manipulating the opportunity for aspiring actors in film and television in exchange for outright nudity, sex and, as Franco put it, “pushing the limits” in Studio 4.

Their invitation called his acting school “fraudulent”. Franco closed Studio 4 in 2017.

In a filing dated June 24, but made public on Wednesday, the plaintiffs’ legal teams proposed the terms of the $2.2 million settlement to a Los Angeles judge, who still has to approve the deal.

Representatives for Franco, Tether Kaplan and Gale did not immediately respond to NBC News’ request for comment.

At the time the lawsuit was filed, Franco’s attorney, Michael Blonsker, said the allegations had been “debunked” and dismissed the allegations as a “outrageous publicity-seeking lawsuit”.

The proposed settlement includes language that would release the claims of all parties, while Franco and the other defendants continue to deny the allegations.

“While the defendants continue to deny the allegations in the complaint, they acknowledge that the plaintiffs have raised important issues; and all parties strongly believe that now is a critical time to focus on addressing the abuse of women in Hollywood,” the proposed statement read.

“Everyone agrees that we need to ensure that no one in the entertainment industry – regardless of gender, race, religion, disability, ethnicity, background, gender or sexual orientation – is subjected to discrimination, harassment or prejudice of any kind.”

Just under $1 million of the payment goes to selected plaintiffs, and just over $1 million goes to a “common fund” to settle additional claims that other members of the class action may pursue.

Tim Fitzsimmons is a reporter for NBC News. he/he

Diana Dasrat

Diana Dasrat is an entertainment producer and senior reporter for NBC News covering all platforms.

Variety and Reuters contributed.

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