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Post by redsoxgirl on Jul 19, 2021 14:42:04 GMT
James Franco agrees to over $2 million settlement in sexual misconduct suit The settlement includes language that "all parties strongly believe that now is a critical time to focus on addressing the mistreatment of women in Hollywood." Has anyone heard about the settlement regarding James Franco? has agreed to pay more than $2 million to settle a sexual misconduct lawsuit filed by several 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 acting school, which he ran from 2014 to 2017.
Sarah Tither-Kaplan and Toni Gaal had alleged in their suit that they and others were coerced into filming overt sexual acts by Franco and his partners.
It accused the respondents of seeking to "sexualize their power and fame by dangling the opportunity to aspiring actors of employment in film and television in exchange for explicit nudity, sex and as Franco put it, the "pushing of boundaries'" at Studio 4.
Their suit had described his acting school as "fraudulent." Franco closed Studio 4 in 2017.
In a filing dated June 24, but made public Wednesday, the plaintiffs' legal teams proposed terms of the $2.2 million settlement to a Los Angeles judge, who still has to approve the deal.
At the time the suit was filed, an attorney for Franco, Michael Plonsker, said the claims were "debunked" and dismissed the allegations as a "scurrilous publicity-seeking lawsuit." "While Defendants continue to deny the allegations in the complaint, they acknowledge that Plaintiffs have raised important issues; and all parties strongly believe that now is a critical time to focus on address the mistreatment of women in Hollywood," a joint statement issued Wednesday on behalf of the former students and Franco said.
"All agree on the need to make sure that no one in the entertainment industry — regardless of sex, race, religion, disability, ethnicity, background, gender or sexual orientation — faces discrimination, harassment or prejudice of any kind.”
Just under $1 million of the payment goes to the named plaintiffs, and just over $1 million goes to a "common fund" to settle additional claims that might be pursued by other members of the class action.
“While James Franco touted that one difference between Studio 4 and other acting schools was its ability to funnel promising talent into his projects, the reality was that he was looking to create a pipeline of young women who were subjected to his personal and professional sexual exploitations in the guise of education,” the suit states. FRanco settled the morning of the first court date.
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Post by MissGriss on Jul 19, 2021 20:54:44 GMT
UGH!!! So many scummy people in this world!
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Post by Critical on Jul 20, 2021 2:21:54 GMT
I definitely do pay attention to who works with various actors with reps for assaulting women. Seth Rogan claims he won't be working with James Franco any more, but I'll believe it when I see it.
For anyone who didn't listen to Ronan Farrow's Catch and Kill podcast - or even for those who did - HBO now has a series of the same name using the video tapes of those interviews. It's really powerful stuff and might trigger someone who's been assaulted, so beware. I don't have anything like that in my history and it's still upsetting.
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Post by Bearcata on Jul 20, 2021 15:52:56 GMT
I realize this is an unpopular opinion and I tread lightly in expressing it - but I think it’s unfair to simplify Rashads point of view as simply being that she supports a rapist. Yes, Cosby is a rapist and she tweeted in support of him, so it’s not untrue. However, her relationship with him and the things she knows about him go far deeper than that. He was there for her in a big way at some major turns I her life and when she judges him she judges him on those things too. She knows a hell of a lot more about him than we do, and I think it’s unrealistic to look to her to judge him just on what we know. I just think it’s unfair to look at the people who are closest to criminals and expect them to stop seeing anything but the crime. I’ll extend her a bit of grace here. There's nothing wrong with having an opinion, even an unpopular one. Even horrible nasty criminals have family & friends who care about them. Example: Bill Cosby. Where she went wrong is stating this opinion in a public place, knowing as well as we do what he's done. He got out because of a legal trial technicality, not because he didn't do it. Sometimes even friends/loved ones, have to keep their big mouths (or posts) shut & keep silent. What she did was a public insult to all sexual assault victims. She did this to herself. Absolutely, agree. There are times to keep silent and this was the moment. Even Cosby's family knew to keep quiet.
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Post by redsoxgirl on Sept 24, 2021 21:41:57 GMT
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Post by redsoxgirl on Sept 24, 2021 21:44:08 GMT
UGH!!! So many scummy people in this world! I agree 100 percent. Will we ever get rid of all of them, Miss Griss.
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Post by MissGriss on Sept 25, 2021 6:22:24 GMT
UGH!!! So many scummy people in this world! I agree 100 percent. Will we ever get rid of all of them, Miss Griss. I would love it if we could, redsoxgirl , but it sure feels hopeless sometimes.
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Post by momrek06 on Sept 27, 2021 19:30:19 GMT
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Post by dagwood on Sept 27, 2021 19:42:03 GMT
HALLELUJAH!
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Post by Kao on Sept 28, 2021 15:47:41 GMT
Finally, after decades and decades of abuse. This doesn't even count the IL charges.
What makes me angry is so many people knew what this man was and they were all complicit in their silence with the exception of one of his old HS teachers who knew he was trying to groom young girls under the "I can make you a star" umbrella and told him if he returned she would get the law involved. So many whispers of "He's kinda funny around young girls" and him targeting girls from unstable, poorer homes because he knew society generally doesn't care about certain people. People are complicit, the neighborhood is complicit, and the families who knew what this monster was but gave their girls to this monster willingly for money are complicit as well. Thank goodness for Jim DeRogatis, who has fought the good fight against R Kelly since the 90s. Yesterday, the courts showed that for once they cared about little Black girls. DeRogatis always did.
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Post by Bearcata on Sept 28, 2021 23:42:24 GMT
Finally, after decades and decades of abuse. This doesn't even count the IL charges. What makes me angry is so many people knew what this man was and they were all complicit in their silence with the exception of one of his old HS teachers who knew he was trying to groom young girls under the "I can make you a star" umbrella and told him if he returned she would get the law involved. So many whispers of "He's kinda funny around young girls" and him targeting girls from unstable, poorer homes because he knew society generally doesn't care about certain people. People are complicit, the neighborhood is complicit, and the families who knew what this monster was but gave their girls to this monster willingly for money are complicit as well. Thank goodness for Jim DeRogatis, who has fought the good fight against R Kelly since the 90s. Yesterday, the courts showed that for once they cared about little Black girls. DeRogatis always did. What is sad is that R Kelly preyed on his own people.
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Post by redsoxgirl on Sept 29, 2021 6:30:24 GMT
Finally, after decades and decades of abuse. This doesn't even count the IL charges. What makes me angry is so many people knew what this man was and they were all complicit in their silence with the exception of one of his old HS teachers who knew he was trying to groom young girls under the "I can make you a star" umbrella and told him if he returned she would get the law involved. So many whispers of "He's kinda funny around young girls" and him targeting girls from unstable, poorer homes because he knew society generally doesn't care about certain people. People are complicit, the neighborhood is complicit, and the families who knew what this monster was but gave their girls to this monster willingly for money are complicit as well. Thank goodness for Jim DeRogatis, who has fought the good fight against R Kelly since the 90s. Yesterday, the courts showed that for once they cared about little Black girls. DeRogatis always did. And boys. Kelly sexually abused boys, as well. A young man testified against Kelly at the trials begining days. That took guts because society isn't as sympathetic toward males who are victims of sexual assault. whether a boy, a teenager or a man.
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Post by Bearcata on Sept 29, 2021 17:04:36 GMT
Finally, after decades and decades of abuse. This doesn't even count the IL charges. What makes me angry is so many people knew what this man was and they were all complicit in their silence with the exception of one of his old HS teachers who knew he was trying to groom young girls under the "I can make you a star" umbrella and told him if he returned she would get the law involved. So many whispers of "He's kinda funny around young girls" and him targeting girls from unstable, poorer homes because he knew society generally doesn't care about certain people. People are complicit, the neighborhood is complicit, and the families who knew what this monster was but gave their girls to this monster willingly for money are complicit as well. Thank goodness for Jim DeRogatis, who has fought the good fight against R Kelly since the 90s. Yesterday, the courts showed that for once they cared about little Black girls. DeRogatis always did. And boys. Kelly sexually abused boys, as well. A young man testified against Kelly at the trials begining days. That took guts because society isn't as sympathetic toward males who are victims of sexual assault. whether a boy, a teenager or a man. Wow didn't know that.
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Post by Critical on Sept 29, 2021 18:06:40 GMT
And boys. Kelly sexually abused boys, as well. A young man testified against Kelly at the trials begining days. That took guts because society isn't as sympathetic toward males who are victims of sexual assault. whether a boy, a teenager or a man. Wow didn't know that. The stuff about the boys wasn’t made public until relatively recently. I watched the docuseries and don’t remember any mention of it.
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Post by Kao on Sept 30, 2021 14:06:52 GMT
Finally, after decades and decades of abuse. This doesn't even count the IL charges. What makes me angry is so many people knew what this man was and they were all complicit in their silence with the exception of one of his old HS teachers who knew he was trying to groom young girls under the "I can make you a star" umbrella and told him if he returned she would get the law involved. So many whispers of "He's kinda funny around young girls" and him targeting girls from unstable, poorer homes because he knew society generally doesn't care about certain people. People are complicit, the neighborhood is complicit, and the families who knew what this monster was but gave their girls to this monster willingly for money are complicit as well. Thank goodness for Jim DeRogatis, who has fought the good fight against R Kelly since the 90s. Yesterday, the courts showed that for once they cared about little Black girls. DeRogatis always did. What is sad is that R Kelly preyed on his own people. That's a common predator thing; look at John Wayne Gacy and Ted Bundy, for example. They preyed on their own as well. There are White serial killers who target Indigenous/Black women (Gary Heidnik comes to mind) but that's because they know society really doesn't value their lives and in a lot of cases those abuses/murders don't even get looked into, much less solved.
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Post by Kao on Oct 14, 2021 21:57:09 GMT
More information about the upcoming Josh Duggar case, and the judge isn't having it. If what they released here about photographing his hands and feet is true (which his people have tried to get removed as evidence) it means that some of his body parts are in some of those photographs. Even though both are repugnant, there's a subtle and nasty difference between those who have CP and those who abuse children and take pictures of it for their own gratification and that of others. My question is who are the children who appeared in these photos? www.cinemablend.com/television/judge-has-blunt-statement-for-josh-duggar-after-team-tries-to-get-child-pornography-charges-dismissedMy opinion of Anna is lower than low right now, because no way in hell would I let this man be anywhere near my children. In fact, she could probably go to any court now asking that he not have contact and there's not a judge out here that will tell her no under these circumstances. Instead, she is "standing by her man" instead of looking out for her children, and that's unacceptable.
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Post by AZChristian on Oct 15, 2021 17:17:41 GMT
My opinion of Anna is lower than low right now, because no way in hell would I let this man be anywhere near my children. In fact, she could probably go to any court now asking that he not have contact and there's not a judge out here that will tell her no under these circumstances. Instead, she is "standing by her man" instead of looking out for her children, and that's unacceptable. I just hope and pray that none of the kids in the photos are identified as Anna's kids . . . with Josh's feet and/or hands also in the picture. "A good Christian man" whom I knew and liked was arrested last year for child pornography, and it's pretty clear from the evidence that he and the man who was arrested with him were taking pictures of his kids (among others). Wisely, he pled guilty and is now in the hands of the prison system for 30 years. But his kids will have to live with the memories for their entire lives.
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Post by Kao on Oct 15, 2021 18:46:46 GMT
No way is he not doing jail time, for a long time. Initially I thought he just had CP on his computer, which is bad enough. But actually being in the photographs abusing children? Under the jail for you!
Meanwhile, Anna's currently cooking BB #7 in the womb and having Jim-Bob buy real estate in her name to fix up and sell (tbh, this sounds like some sort of grift/way of appeasing Anna more than anything). What's even worse is they blame Anna for Josh's BS. When she only had three babies her family offered her help if she wanted to break free and she did not take the offer; now she has 6 kids, one on the way, and she is STUCK.
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Post by Bearcata on Oct 25, 2021 19:14:43 GMT
My opinion of Anna is lower than low right now, because no way in hell would I let this man be anywhere near my children. In fact, she could probably go to any court now asking that he not have contact and there's not a judge out here that will tell her no under these circumstances. Instead, she is "standing by her man" instead of looking out for her children, and that's unacceptable. I just hope and pray that none of the kids in the photos are identified as Anna's kids . . . with Josh's feet and/or hands also in the picture. "A good Christian man" whom I knew and liked was arrested last year for child pornography, and it's pretty clear from the evidence that he and the man who was arrested with him were taking pictures of his kids (among others). Wisely, he pled guilty and is now in the hands of the prison system for 30 years. But his kids will have to live with the memories for their entire lives. ... his own kids ... that is just so sick
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Post by Critical on Oct 25, 2021 21:00:39 GMT
I read a blind item about this a few days ago and really hoped it wasn't true. Apparently,Travis Wall isn't the only one involved with Break the Floor who should be investigated. I really like Travis and think he's so talented. Why'd he have to turn out to be a creep?
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Post by FannyMare on Oct 25, 2021 23:09:21 GMT
I read a blind item about this a few days ago and really hoped it wasn't true. Apparently,Travis Wall isn't the only one involved with Break the Floor who should be investigated. I really like Travis and think he's so talented. Why'd he have to turn out to be a creep?
He's very talented imho. But obviously ,he's also a creep as well! Very disappointed, again!
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Post by Kao on Oct 26, 2021 5:53:23 GMT
They're investigating Nick Lazzarini (the first season winner) as well. Unfortunately, the dance world is rife with abuse so it doesn't surprise me that Break The Floor is dirty as well.
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Post by Critical on Oct 26, 2021 7:59:14 GMT
This is an awkwardly written article (it's an Indian site), but if you scroll down, it gives more information about the situation: There's mention of several others involved with BTF being involved. These men are talented, but they just can't keep from using their power in sick ways. I don't think most of them have ANY other abilities outside of the dance world, so they should probably polish up on their skills....although maybe they can learn something new in prison (I doubt that will happen, but it would be nice).
I grew up in that world and I always feel SO lucky that I never fell prey to any predators. My dance teachers were so wonderful and protective. Still, my mother hardly let me out of her sight. You just never know who's around, especially at big dance conventions.
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Post by Arielflies on Oct 26, 2021 16:52:42 GMT
I fell prey at age 5 - a tap dance teacher - and kept quiet until my parent's last weeks of life when they asked me if I had ever been molested. I still carry the shadow of it with me to this day.
At the time Mom would get mad at me for not wanting to go to class and drag me there. We moved the next year and she found another dance class - this time ballet with a female teacher. I loved it.
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Post by Eastcoastmom on Oct 26, 2021 17:31:28 GMT
I fell prey at age 5 - a tap dance teacher - and kept quiet until my parent's last weeks of life when they asked me if I had ever been molested. I still carry the shadow of it with me to this day. At the time Mom would get mad at me for not wanting to go to class and drag me there. We moved the next year and she found another dance class - this time ballet with a female teacher. I loved it. I'm so sorry, Arielflies. I just can't even imagine. There are such sick ba#%ards in this world.
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Post by dagwood on Oct 26, 2021 19:27:53 GMT
I fell prey at age 5 - a tap dance teacher - and kept quiet until my parent's last weeks of life when they asked me if I had ever been molested. I still carry the shadow of it with me to this day. At the time Mom would get mad at me for not wanting to go to class and drag me there. We moved the next year and she found another dance class - this time ballet with a female teacher. I loved it. So sorry to hear you went through that. That type of thing was my biggest fear when my daughter was young.
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Post by MissGriss on Oct 26, 2021 21:46:14 GMT
I'm so sad and angry that you had that experience Arielflies. It's such an abuse of power.
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Post by sweetmermaid1 on Oct 27, 2021 5:33:32 GMT
I fell prey at age 5 - a tap dance teacher - and kept quiet until my parent's last weeks of life when they asked me if I had ever been molested. I still carry the shadow of it with me to this day. At the time Mom would get mad at me for not wanting to go to class and drag me there. We moved the next year and she found another dance class - this time ballet with a female teacher. I loved it. I'm so sorry this happened to you. Its tragic that experiences like this are just now taken seriously.
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Post by AZChristian on Oct 27, 2021 13:57:13 GMT
I fell prey at age 5 - a tap dance teacher - and kept quiet until my parent's last weeks of life when they asked me if I had ever been molested. I still carry the shadow of it with me to this day. At the time Mom would get mad at me for not wanting to go to class and drag me there. We moved the next year and she found another dance class - this time ballet with a female teacher. I loved it. I've read that 1 out of 4 girls and 1 out of 6 boys are sexually molested during their childhood. It's horrid. I heard a line in a TV show that I know to be true: When a child is molested, it changes them instantly and forever. Hugs, Arielflies.
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Post by Critical on Nov 18, 2021 7:02:01 GMT
Eliza Dushku gave testimony before Congress (via Zoom/Skype) about the sexual harassment she experienced working on Bull. It's pretty horrifying. Makes me happy to have stopped watching that show when I first heard about how she was treated. Michael Weatherly is scum. I'll never watch another thing he does. This makes me question the character of the other actors on the show, some of whom apparently joined in with the harassment.
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