James Franco claims alien encounter in viral TikTok videos after years away

James Franco has returned to social media after a seven-year hiatus sharing a series of TikTok videos that he claims document an alleged extraterrestrial encounter.

The actor who launched a new TikTok account on June 3 after staying largely off public platforms since 2018 teased followers with cryptic messages insisting the account was genuine and promising that everything would eventually "make sense."

In the weeks that followed Franco posted increasingly mysterious videos claiming he was being watched, followed and prevented from revealing the truth.

Repeatedly dismissing suggestions that the posts were a publicity stunt he told followers "This is real."

On June 15 Franco alleged that the mystery centred around an alien he claimed to have seen near his property.

He later announced that he would release the footage on July 13 despite claiming that others were trying to stop him.

When the videos were finally published Franco said he could no longer keep the incident to himself adding that he wanted people to see what he had witnessed. The black-and-white clips appear to show an alien-like figure outside a property and approaching windows.

However many social media users questioned the authenticity of the footage with several describing it as "clearly fake" and speculating that it could be linked to an upcoming project.

Franco has also uploaded additional content behind a paid subscription on TikTok further fueling debate among followers.