While most celebs get awarded honorary degrees for just turning up and waving around a scroll in a stupid hat, James Franco is actually enrolled at New York University. As you can see from the above pic, he's working as hard as any other student, so it must've been quite the surprise when he only scored a D grade in a filmmaking class. Perhaps the lecturer had sat through Your Highness, or maybe he felt it was a little unfair that Franco only turned up to 2 out of 14 classes, but that doesn't matter now because he's fired.

So, Jose Angel Santana, who taught actor/director a filmmaking class, claims he was unfairly dismissed from his teaching job at the Manhattan university soon after handing Oscar nominee Franco a 'D' grade for missing 12 out of 14 of his Directing the Actor classes, saying:

“The school has bent over backwards to create a Franco-friendly environment, that’s for sure. The university has done everything in its power to curry favor with James Franco.”

In legal papers obtained by TMZ.com, Santana alleges that Franco made "several public disparaging and inaccurate statements" about his professor after claiming he had received the poor grade for an acting class, with the document stating:

"The resulting publicity ridiculed Dr Santana allegedly for giving an award-winning actor a 'D' in acting, even though the 'D' was actually in directing actors, and for abhorrent attendance."

He also claims that Franco only got good grades in other classes because he hired professionals to write and direct his films.

Meanwhile, a statement from NYU reads: 

"It is regrettable and disappointing to see a faculty member - former or otherwise - discuss any student's grade for the purpose of his or her personal publicity."

And Franco himself adds:

“I did the work. I did well in everything else.”

Quit your moaning, both of you. When Ross Geller was a lecturer at NYU, all you needed to do to bump up your grade was say you were in love with him. Oh Friends.