James Franco reveals he doesn't get (or care) how the internet works
Letterman
James Franco has turned his celebrity into something of a spectator sport — both wittingly and (probably) without meaning to. So he couldn't have been too surprised when David Letterman chose to broach the topic of his Instagram account on The Late Show Thursday night. (This is a thing? Yes: BuzzFeed is concern-trolling Franco about an "Instagram intervention" — don't click if you don't want to see a lot of James Franco.)
Letterman showed Franco one of those photos — he's in his underwear, hand down pants — and asked what's going on. Franco said it's complicated, but that this is just a fun, casual thing he does. And then either got deliberately obtuse or showed his complete lack of understanding of how the internet functions (or both?). "It's not like I'm putting that on billboards — ostensibly, Instagram is for my fans," he protested. But those pesky bloggers are now following him. And now Letterman?
"I didn't ask you to look at it!" Franco told Letterman. "It's what the people want!" Right: Mostly those bloggers, probably. Just ask Anthony Weiner. But Weiner's career-derailing selfie was an unforced error — Franco's over-sharing is just strange. The public (and Hollywood) allow celebrities a generous amount of eccentricity, but becoming a Hollywood train wreck isn't great for your career. Just ask Lindsay Lohan. --Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Melting polar ice is messing with global timekeeping
Speed Read Ice loss caused by climate change is slowing the Earth's rotation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Week contest: Stick guitar
Puzzles and Quizzes
By The Week US Published
-
'Sports executives ushered a fox into the henhouse'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Puffed rice and yoga: inside the collapsed tunnel where Indian workers await rescue
Speed Read Workers trapped in collapsed tunnel are suffering from dysentery and anxiety over their rescue
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
More than 2,000 dead following massive earthquake in Morocco
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Mexico's next president will almost certainly be its 1st female president
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
North Korea's Kim to visit Putin in eastern Russia to discuss arms sales for Ukraine war, U.S. says
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Gabon's military leader sworn in following coup in latest African uprising
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
Nobody seems surprised Wagner's Prigozhin died under suspicious circumstances
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Western mountain climbers allegedly left Pakistani porter to die on K2
Speed Read
By Justin Klawans Published
-
'Circular saw blades' divide controversial Rio Grande buoys installed by Texas governor
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published