JAMES Franco was digitally erased from Vanity Fair’s annual Hollywood issue cover.
“We made a decision not to include James Franco on the Hollywood cover once we learned of the misconduct allegations against him,” the magazine said in a statement.
Representatives for Franco did not immediately return an email request for comment.
This year’s issue, with photos shot by Annie Leibovitz, features Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Nicole Kidman, Tom Hanks, Gal Gadot, Jessica Chastain, Robert De Niro, Michael B. Jordan, Harrison Ford, Zendaya, Michael Shannon, Graydon Carter and Claire Foy.
“The films and TV shows represented by the actors in this year’s Hollywood Portfolio—which for the first time offers a behind-the-scenes look at the shoot—took the #MeToo movement in stride, offering strong women in leading roles, as well as strong men supporting them,” Vanity Fair said in its article. “Here we have Reese Witherspoon and Nicole Kidman summoning the women’s battle cry of ‘Big Little Lies’ alongside Tom Hanks as Ben Bradlee, the indispensable sidekick to ‘The Post’ heroine Katharine Graham.”
Franco had a stellar turn as “disaster” actor Tommy Wiseau in “The Disaster Artist,” which garnered him a Golden Globe trophy for best actor in a comedy. But at least five women have accused Franco of sexual misconduct.
Critics think the sexual allegations, at the height of the Me Too campaign, destroyed his chances of getting an Oscar nod. Then he got ousted from this star-studded cover, too.
Meanwhile, social media sleuths had a field day Friday at the expense of Vanity Fair over what appeared to be digital manipulation of the magazine’s cover spread on Hollywood that lent what looked to some like a third leg for Witherspoon and an extra hand for Winfrey (inside photo).
The magazine responded on Twitter with an apology for an “error” in regard to Winfrey. As for Witherspoon, Vanity Fair said the third leg was actually the lining of her dress.
Vanity Fair did not use the “P″ word—Photoshop—but said the Winfrey image will be updated on the magazine’s Web site.
Winfrey and Witherspoon had some fun over the Twitter flurry, with Witherspoon tweeting at Winfrey: “Well... I guess everybody knows now...I have 3 legs. I hope you can still accept me for who I am. And I will never apologize for snuggling @Oprah ...if you get the opportunity, I highly recommend it.”
To which Winfrey responded: “I accept your 3rd leg. As I know you accept my 3rd hand?” (AP with JGA)