Actress Charlyne Yi has spoken out about her experience making 2017 film The Disaster Artist, claiming that she was bribed with a bigger role upon trying to leave the production after learning of sexual misconduct allegations against star James Franco.
Yi — who played costume designer Safowa Bright-Asare in the film about the making of Tommy Wiseau's The Room — wrote in an Instagram post yesterday (April 8) that she tried to "break legal contract" to quit the film after learning of the allegations, only to have producers "[try] to bribe me with a bigger acting role."
Yi recalled telling producers that the offer "was the exact opposite of what I wanted, that I didn't feel safe working with a fucking sexual predator," only to have her concerns "minimized" as producers "said Franco being a predator was so last [year] and that he changed...when I literally heard of him abusing new women that week."
"Enablers are just as toxic and are abusers too," Yi wrote. "Disgusted by white men choosing power over protecting children and women from predators. Educate, organize, and dismantle corruption in your circles and in the law."
She added, "White men saying it's not their responsibility when holding Franco accountable, or when holding Seth Rogen and enablers accountable. Then whose responsibility is it? The women and children who have PTSD from Franco? Or the future targets of abuse?"
Of Rogen, Yi wrote that he "was one of the producers on this film so he definitely knows about the bribe and why I quit. Seth also did a sketch on SNL with Franco enabling Franco preying on children. Right after Franco was caught. Franco has a long history of preying on children. This is on top all the corrupt laws that protect predators made by violent white men."
In 2014, a 17-year-old girl shared screenshots of alleged messages between Franco and herself, which showed the actor, then 35, attempting to arrange a meeting in a hotel room. Nearly a month later, Franco would tell SiriusXM's Howard Stern, "Seventeen is legal in New York, but that being said, it's still pretty damn young. They make it out like I'm pursuing young women. I'm not going to high schools looking for dates."
After sporting a Time's Up pin at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards, Franco was accused of sexual misconduct by three women. Upon Franco calling the allegations "not accurate" the following day, five more women came forward with claims of "inappropriate" and "sexually exploitative" behaviour from the actor.
Franco reached a settlement with two of the women, former students of his Los Angeles acting school, this past February.
Yi — who played costume designer Safowa Bright-Asare in the film about the making of Tommy Wiseau's The Room — wrote in an Instagram post yesterday (April 8) that she tried to "break legal contract" to quit the film after learning of the allegations, only to have producers "[try] to bribe me with a bigger acting role."
Yi recalled telling producers that the offer "was the exact opposite of what I wanted, that I didn't feel safe working with a fucking sexual predator," only to have her concerns "minimized" as producers "said Franco being a predator was so last [year] and that he changed...when I literally heard of him abusing new women that week."
"Enablers are just as toxic and are abusers too," Yi wrote. "Disgusted by white men choosing power over protecting children and women from predators. Educate, organize, and dismantle corruption in your circles and in the law."
She added, "White men saying it's not their responsibility when holding Franco accountable, or when holding Seth Rogen and enablers accountable. Then whose responsibility is it? The women and children who have PTSD from Franco? Or the future targets of abuse?"
Of Rogen, Yi wrote that he "was one of the producers on this film so he definitely knows about the bribe and why I quit. Seth also did a sketch on SNL with Franco enabling Franco preying on children. Right after Franco was caught. Franco has a long history of preying on children. This is on top all the corrupt laws that protect predators made by violent white men."
In 2014, a 17-year-old girl shared screenshots of alleged messages between Franco and herself, which showed the actor, then 35, attempting to arrange a meeting in a hotel room. Nearly a month later, Franco would tell SiriusXM's Howard Stern, "Seventeen is legal in New York, but that being said, it's still pretty damn young. They make it out like I'm pursuing young women. I'm not going to high schools looking for dates."
After sporting a Time's Up pin at the 2018 Golden Globe Awards, Franco was accused of sexual misconduct by three women. Upon Franco calling the allegations "not accurate" the following day, five more women came forward with claims of "inappropriate" and "sexually exploitative" behaviour from the actor.
Franco reached a settlement with two of the women, former students of his Los Angeles acting school, this past February.