James Franco and his longtime girlfriend, Isabel Pakzad, enjoyed a rare red carpet date night at the Saturday Night Live 50th anniversary special. The couple, who typically keep their relationship private, looked radiant as they posed for photos at New York’s Rockefeller Center on Sunday, February 16. Franco, 46, wore a sharp black tuxedo, while Pakzad, 29, chose a stylish grey tailored two-piece adorned with intricate floral details.
Franco and Pakzad, who began dating in November 2017, have made few public appearances together. However, they did attend the 2024 Cannes Film Festival in May to celebrate the premiere of Kinds of Kindness, which featured a star-studded cast including Emma Stone and Jesse Plemons. Despite their relatively low profile, their appearance at the SNL 50 event marked a special moment for the couple.
Franco has been open about his past struggles, including revealing his battle with sex addiction during a December 2021 appearance on The Jess Cagle Podcast. He admitted that his addiction had impacted his ability to be faithful in past relationships, saying, “I could never be faithful to anybody” prior to meeting Pakzad. Franco also acknowledged the role his success and attention from women played in his past behavior, explaining that he sought validation through relationships.
In 2018, Franco faced accusations of sexual misconduct from five women, which led to a lawsuit filed by two former students in 2019. The lawsuit was settled in 2021. While initially denying the accusations, Franco later admitted to inappropriate behavior, stating that his interactions with students were consensual but wrong. He also discussed his relationship with former friend and collaborator Seth Rogen, revealing that their friendship had ended in light of the allegations.
Despite the controversies in his past, Franco’s relationship with Pakzad appears strong, with the couple continuing to make rare but significant public appearances together.
