James Franco Was Digitally Erased From Vanity Fair's Hollywood Cover
Did sexual misconduct allegations cost James Franco a Best Actor Oscar nomination? We can't say for sure, but the accusations definitely cost him another honor: Being on the cover of Vanity Fair's Hollywood issue.
The magazine confirmed to THR that "The Disaster Artist" actor was part of the original photo shoot that took place in November, but was digitally scrubbed out just before the issue went to press. "We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him," the Vanity Fair spokesperson said.
A rep for Franco did not comment to THR.
The allegations surfaced the day after Franco won a Golden Globe for "The Disaster Artist," and the actor has vigorously denied them.
Given that the article mentions the #MeToo movement (and the "strong men supporting [it]"), keeping Franco would likely have provoked the same cries of hypocrisy as his wearing a "Time's Up" pin to the Globes. (At Sundance, Scarlett Johansson called him out, saying, "I want my pin back.")
Still on the cover are (left to right) Oprah Winfrey, Nicole Kidman, Reese Witherspoon, Tom Hanks, Michael B. Jordan, Zendaya, Jessica Chastain, Claire Foy, Michael Shannon, Harrison Ford, Gal Gadot, Vanity Fair editor-in-chief Graydon Carter and Robert De Niro.
[Via THR]