Mumbai, March 2 -- Seven years after James Franco's widely criticized stint as an Oscars co-host, the Academy found itself on the brink of a more severe public relations crisis. As the star and director of The Disaster Artist, Franco was applauded for his work until he was accused by at least five women of inappropriate behavior, just as the Oscar voting period concluded. Despite his denials and an uncertain road to the Oscars, Franco's situation underscored Hollywood's tense navigation through the #MeToo era.

In an industry where the Oscars strive to maintain an image free from controversy, Franco's potential nomination was a litmus test for Hollywood's tolerance in the wake of the #MeToo movement. "Hollywood as a whole is extremely sen...