Variety reports that The New York Times has canceled an upcoming speaking event centered on actor and director James Franco, in light of questions raised about his attitudes and behaviors toward women in the wake of this weekend’s Golden Globes. Franco was originally scheduled to give one of the paper’s TimeTalks tomorrow, specifically focused on his work on the recent Globes winner The Disaster Artist. Franco’s brother (and co-star on the film), Dave Franco, was also expected to appear.
Critics began raising new concerns about Franco on Sunday night, after he was seen wearing a Time’s Up pin, in support of increased female representation and vigilance against sexual harassment and assault, at the Globes ceremony. One woman, actress Violet Paley, spoke up on Twitter, accusing Franco of coercing her into a sexual act when she was only 17, while another accused him of mistreating and under-paying her for nude scenes on the set of one of his films. Franco has yet to comment on the accusations against him, although Paley’s said he called her a few weeks ago to offer “me & a few other girls an overdue, annoyed, convenient phone ‘apology.’”