James Franco's troubles continue apace. After losing out on an anticipated Oscar nomination earlier this week, the actor has been completely removed from Vanity Fair's prestigious Hollywood Issue.
James Franco Removed From Vanity Fair Cover
The actor was digitally removed last minute following the resurgence of sexual assault allegations against him in the wake of his Golden Globes win. Franco sat for a photo shoot with famed photographer Annie Leibovitz and even conducted an interview for the magazine but he does not appear on its cover or anywhere inside.
"We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him," said a Vanity Fair spokesperson in relation to the decision to remove Franco.
Without Franco, the magazine gave attention to #MeToo and Time's Up movements. The cover features the likes of Oprah Winfrey, Claire Foy, and Wonder Woman herself, Gal Gadot.
However, the cover was criticized for giving Winfrey a third hand. The magazine tweeted on social media that it would correct this error.
Vanity Fair's decision came following persistent allegations of sexual misconduct against the star by two students of the acting school he founded in New York. The accusations initially surfaced while Franco was accepting his Best Actor award for Tommy Wiseau biopic The Disaster Artist, with a Time's Up pin prominently placed on his lapel.
Five women came forward with allegations, speaking in a tell-all interview with the LA Times. Franco responded in interviews with late-night talk show hosts Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers. He protested his innocence to both hosts, telling them that he fully supports women's right to come forward but, in this instance, the claims against him are false.
Two of Franco's most vocal accusers subsequently appeared on Good Morning America where they discussed the allegations further. One of the women, who admits to being in a consensual and sexual relationship with Franco, alleges that he attempted to force her into performing a sex act on him in a car.
Graydon Carter's Last VF Hurrah
Exiting editor-in-chief Graydon Carter also appears on this year's cover. Carter launched the Hollywood Issue over 20 years ago, and the 2018 edition will be his last, with Radhika Jones taking over the reigns.
In a behind-the-scenes video, Carter is quoted as saying that he started the now-iconic triple panel cover for this particular issue of the magazine. He added he wasn't sure that one actor could carry the idea of all of Hollywood.
