James Franco: Gay Rapist?

James Franco is the handsome actor who was the subject of a blind item over the summer in which it was alleged that he's A) gay and B) a rapist. A story originally reported by Page Six had Franco allegedly raping an ex-boyfriend to the point where said boyfriend had to have surgery and was then paid off to shut up about it.

It's a rumor, take it with a grain of salt. Or perhaps the whole shaker. Franco is currently on the press junket circuit, with appearances in Details and Interview. In an interesting twist, Franco is currently promoting his role in Milk, the biopic starring Sean Penn as San Francisco's famous gay politician Henry Milk. He plays Penn's boyfriend.

Gawker brought this up on their site today, and released Franco's name as the actor in question. They claim several sources have named Franco to them as the dude in question. Socialite Life has heard the same thing.

Franco hasn't commented and seems to have been just fine playing a gay dude, and making out with Penn in gay director Gus Van Sant's new opus. Well, he has admitted to some hustling.

"I approached the relationship part as I would approach any relationship. When I'm working with another actor or actress that I'm supposed to have a relationship with, I'll look for things in the person I like. My other hero on the film was Sean, so it wasn't too hard to look up to him -- or whatever that is," Franco said in an interview with Details. He also mentioned that he's been "in love" with Penn since he saw him in "Fast Times [at Ridgemont High]."

If the rumors are true, then he's really wrecked it for pretty people. Christ, I know rape is an act of violence but you would think this bitch could get man ass on his looks and fame alone sans the evil violence.