The Surprising (But Smart) Reason James Franco No Longer Watches Porn

By Amanda Froelich Truth Theory

Though pornography is still somewhat taboo in most societies, it has become somewhat of a mainstay in popular culture. This is likely because free porn is easy and quick to access. Anywhere around the world, as long as there is an internet connection, one can click on and view it.

The ease of which one can do this might cause some to believe that the industry is essentially harmless. However, there are long-term repercussions — predominantly psychological yet some physical — that may result from indulging in porn too often. Not only may frequently masturbating to porn result in a “messed up” libido, it often times becomes more difficult to become aroused by one’s life partner as a result. You can guess the effect this has on marriages.

Though you wouldn’t expect it, actor James Franco abstains from porn. His reasons for doing so are different than those shared above, however. In an interview with US Magazine, published late 2017, Franco disclosed that while he used to partake in the industry, he stopped out of concern for the economic welfare of the women involved. Said Franco, “I don’t know if you believe me or not. I watched it in my day. I certainly watched it as research for this show. [But] I don’t watch porn.”

The interview was to promote the HBO show The Deuces, which he stars in alongside actors Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gbenga Akinnagbe, and Gary Carr. Because the film delves into the rise of the porn industry in the 1970’s, his thoughts on the matter were quite relevant.

He said, “I have no moralistic stand against it by any means, but in unregulated capitalism, I think that’s one of the main points of our show. There’s always these people, a select few who sort of come out on top and the rest are just thrown under the bus. My friend Rashida Jones came out with a documentary called ‘Hot Girls Wanted’ a couple of years ago and I think the main point I took away from that film is that these young women [in porn] are not protected… It’s just completely unregulated. They go out to Florida and they’re just sort of ground up in a matter of months and just discarded, and nobody is there to protect them. There’s no laws to protect them and that is very much the case in our show as well.”

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