Dave Franco celebrates 40th birthday with family at the Taormina Film Festival in Italy, drawing attention as his older brother James Franco makes a seldom-seen appearance after years out of the spotlight. The family gathering attracts notice amid James Franco’s continued reckoning with past controversies and a strained relationship with former collaborator Seth Rogen.
Franco Family Reunites in Italy for Milestone Birthday
James Franco, at 47, was photographed joining his brother Dave at the 71st Taormina Film Festival on June 11 in Taormina, Italy. The event highlighted Dave Franco’s 40th birthday, with his wife Alison Brie, their mother Betsy Franco, James, producer Tiziana Rocca, and James’s partner Izabel Pakzad gathered as Dave stood before a birthday cake. The family’s close-knit celebration contrasted with the intense scrutiny surrounding James in recent years.
James Franco’s Distance from Hollywood and Former Friends
The Taormina appearance follows nearly a year after James Franco gave a rare interview where he discussed the end of his long friendship with Seth Rogen, once a frequent collaborator. In October 2024, Franco reflected,
“I haven’t talked to Seth. I love Seth, we had 20 great years together, but I guess it’s over. And not for lack of trying. I’ve told him how much he’s meant to me,”
—James Franco, actor. Rogen, who is 43, addressed Franco’s comments in a February interview, simply saying,
“Honestly, I absorb so little media that it really wasn’t on my radar.”
—Seth Rogen, actor. The exchange underscored the emotional and professional distance that has developed since allegations about James Franco came to light.
Allegations and Legal Challenges Mark Recent Years
James Franco’s career took a dramatic turn in 2018 when five women, including four of his acting students from Studio 4, accused him of sexual misconduct. Student Sarah Tither-Kaplan told Good Morning America in January 2018 that Franco
“abused his power by exploiting the non-celebrity women that he worked with under the guise of giving them opportunities,”
—Sarah Tither-Kaplan, Studio 4 student. While Franco denied the allegations, in 2019 a lawsuit was filed by two students in Los Angeles County Superior Court, claiming Franco and his business partners had engaged in
“widespread inappropriate and sexually charged behavior towards female students by sexualizing their power as a teacher and an employer by dangling the opportunity for roles in their projects.”
—Plaintiffs, court filing.
James settled the class-action suit three years later, agreeing to pay $2.2 million. The settlement was accompanied by a joint statement:
“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 [addressing] the mistreatment of women in Hollywood,”
—Joint statement, after settlement.
Public Reflections and Acknowledgment of Past Behavior
Following the settlement, Franco spoke out publicly, discussing his conduct as a teacher and his personal actions. He admitted on SiriusXM’s The Jess Cagle Podcast,
“Over the course of my teaching, I did sleep with students, and that was wrong,”
—James Franco, actor. He elaborated,
“But like I said, it’s not why I started the school and I wasn’t the person that selected the people to be in the class. So it wasn’t a ‘master plan’ on my part. But yes, there were certain instances where, you know what, I was in a consensual thing with a student and I shouldn’t have been.”
—James Franco, actor. Franco also reflected on his state of mind at the time, stating,
“At the time I was not clearheaded, as I’ve said. So I guess it just comes down to my criteria was like, ‘If this is consensual, like, I think it’s cool. We’re all adults so…’”
—James Franco, actor.
He further spoke about pursuing self-improvement and recovery from addiction, saying he had
“been doing a lot of work”
and
“was in recovery before for substance abuse”
—James Franco, actor, suggesting that personal struggles intersected with his professional and legal challenges.
The Immediate and Lasting Impact on Family and Career
While Dave Franco celebrates 40th birthday with family in Italy, James Franco’s rare public appearance signifies an ongoing attempt to reconnect with loved ones and perhaps re-enter public life. The presence of family members including Alison Brie, Betsy Franco, and others signals strong family support during a time marked by tension and controversy. James Franco’s efforts to address his past have been accompanied by public admissions and continued distance from his former collaborators. The broader impact on his career and reputation remains to be seen, as both brothers navigate very public, yet deeply personal, turning points.
