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James Franco at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards
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MARIO ANZUONI / REUTERS
Actor and director James Franco spoke about his sex addiction and wrongdoing towards women in an interview.
The broadcaster SiriusXM published excerpts from the conversation on Wednesday, which should be broadcast in full on Thursday.
In it, the 43-year-old Hollywood star also commented on the allegations made by several women who had accused him of sexual harassment almost four years ago.
He has since worked on himself and has changed, Franco said on The Jess Cagle podcast.
Already as a teenager he had alcohol problems and he got the addiction under control at the age of 17.
After that, however, he was addicted to fame and sex, said Franco.
“It's such a strong drug.
I was addicted for 20 years after that. "
Franco also admitted in the interview to have had sex with students of his now closed drama school, "and that was wrong".
At the time he thought that if it was consensual, then it was okay, said Franco.
"I wasn't clear at the time."
Franco said he was constantly cheating on women and hurting many people.
He was "completely blind to power dynamics or the like, but also completely blind to people's feelings."
Five women had made serious allegations against Franco in the Los Angeles Times in January 2018.
Two of his former drama students then sued him in 2019 for, among other things, discrimination, sexual assault and intimidation.
According to US media reports, he is said to have paid around 2.2 million US dollars this year to resolve the lawsuit.
Franco had repeatedly denied the allegations.
It is now the first time that he has commented in detail on the allegations.
When they first became public, Franco said it was time to be silent and listen.
"There were people who were mad at me and I had to listen."
Franco has worked in films such as "Milk", "Spider-Man", "The Interview" and "The Disaster Artist".
His role in the survival film »127 Hours« earned him an Oscar nomination in 2011 for best leading actor.
aar / dpa