James Franco has always marched to the beat of his own drum … even back in high school.
In an interview with MTV about his new movie, “Interior. Leather Bar,” a documentary he directed about sexual and creative freedom that features gay sex scenes, the actor – who has played gay characters in “Milk” and “Howl” – was asked his thoughts regarding the constant speculation about whether or not he himself is gay, and he said it was nothing new.
“In high school these girls got mad at me and so they spread this rumor that I was having a gay relationship with one of my closest friends,” Franco, 34, recalled. “And they even made up a little dance they would do in the girl’s locker room about me being gay. I still don’t know what the dance was … It wasn’t something that frightened me, like if people think that, it’s fine. I really don’t care.”
But what Franco did really get riled up about was a 2008 New York Post blind item about a closeted actor – widely reported to be him – who had beat and raped his boyfriend. “Gawker picked that up and did this 'Gay Rapist' story that was so f***ng offensive because I have friends who have been raped,” he told Playboy in 2011.
Franco, who had five-year-relationships with Marla Sokoloff and Ahna O'Reilly, is now reportedly dating his "Spring Breakers" co-star, Ashley Benson.
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