“This dude’s, like, 48 years old and, like … get[ting] in on this Internet game.”

James Franco, the Alien, and the Re-Invention of Celebrity

Perhaps for the first time, a major movie star is pursuing our attention as shamelessly as any other wannabe influencer

By Nancy Jo Sales

In June, James Franco joined TikTok to announce some startling news: there was an alien living in his garage. In a series of bizarre posts, a haggard and agitated Franco attempted to convince viewers that no matter how “crazy” he sounded, “this is real.” “I know how this looks,” he said, wearing a ratty blue T-shirt inexplicably adorned with two vertical lines fashioned with yellow masking tape, forming the “pause” symbol. “This dude’s, like, 48 years old and, like … get[ting] in on this Internet game. That’s not what’s going on.”

On July 13, Franco revealed security footage of the alien, which looked like a guy dressed up in an alien costume. People, Newsweek, and other outlets covered it. “Did James Franco Find Real Alien Footage or Is He Just Trolling Everyone?” asked The Hollywood Reporter. Online commenters ran the expected gamut. Some suspected it was all a joke, or a publicity stunt for an upcoming project. Others feared for Franco’s mental health: “You’re scaring us James”; “What in the Britney Spears is going on?” Meanwhile, Franco had racked up a million followers.