James Franco called the New York Times theater critic Ben Brantley a “little bitch” on an Instagram post in response to Brantley’s review of Of Mice and Men.
Brantley’s review in the New York Times wrote that Franco “is often understated to the point of invisibility,” referring to Franco and co-star Chris O’Dowd as “largely monolithic.” Brantley also criticized the Anna D. Shapiro-directed Broadway production for lacking chemistry between the leads and for feeling “about as fluid as a diorama in a history museum.”
Entertainment Weekly reported that Franco posted his insult of Brantley alongside a photo and a link to Variety’s glowing review of the production. In addition to calling Brantley a “little bitch,” Franco also wrote that “the theater community hates him.” The actor has since edited the original post to remove his statements on Brantley.
Of Mice and Men opened on Wednesday. Franco and O’Dowd star as George and Lennie, respectively. The play is based on John Steinbeck’s classic novel.