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Zoey Deutch made her feelings known about James Franco by simply drinking a bottle of water
Zoey Deutch has never been one to shy away from a cheeky moment, but even she couldn’t hide her discomfort when James Franco’s name came up during a lighthearted game of “F**k, Marry, Kill.”
The Set It Up and Not Okay actress appeared on the Chicks in the Office podcast back in 2022, where hosts Ria Ciuffo and Francesca Mariano asked her to play the classic Hollywood version of the game, rating a few of her famous co-stars.
At first, the mood was fun and easygoing, with Deutch laughing as she considered names like Dylan O’Brien, Zac Efron, and Glen Powell, all actors she’s worked with in past romantic comedies. But when the conversation turned to potential “kill” options, things got a little awkward.
“I definitely have a kill,” Deutch teased, smiling but refusing to say who she had in mind.
As the hosts playfully scanned her IMDb page, they eventually landed on one name that caused Deutch to suddenly reach for her water bottle and avoid eye contact: James Franco.
The pair starred together in Why Him? but fans suspected tension
For fans who remember, Zoey Deutch and James Franco worked together in the 2016 comedy Why Him?, where Franco played her eccentric tech-mogul boyfriend opposite Bryan Cranston as her disapproving father.
While the movie performed moderately well at the box office, fans have long speculated that Deutch wasn’t exactly enamored with her on-screen partner, and her past comments seem to support that theory.
When she appeared on Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen in 2018, Deutch was asked what it was like to kiss Franco during filming. Her blunt response quickly went viral.
“Meh,” she said flatly, later adding that the moment was “very not memorable.” When pressed further, Deutch implied that Franco had bad breath, cementing one of the most talked-about late-night interview moments of the year.
Deutch later supported Franco’s accusers
Beyond the awkward interviews, Deutch’s unease around Franco may also have deeper roots. After Why Him? was released, Franco faced multiple allegations of sexual misconduct related to his now-defunct acting school.
Although Franco denied the allegations at the time, he later admitted in 2021 that he had engaged in inappropriate sexual relationships with students and was being treated for sex addiction.
In response to the controversy, Deutch publicly voiced her support for the women who came forward, telling The New York Post: “I am so proud and in awe of the people who have come forward about [James Franco].”
A reputation restored for Deutch
Since then, Deutch’s career has only grown, with critics praising her performances in indie hits and comedies alike. Her candidness and humor (even in moments of awkwardness) have made her a fan favorite among younger audiences.
While Deutch never confirmed whether James Franco was indeed her “kill” choice during that now-infamous interview, her silence may have spoken volumes.
The viral clip has since resurfaced across social media, with fans applauding her subtle shade and calling it “the most polite takedown ever.”