Photo credit: Brian To/WENN.com

"How many students watch outsized frat-boy fantasies like Neighbors and feel, as Rodger did, unjustly shut out of college life that should be full of 'sex and fun and pleasure'? How many men, raised on a steady diet of Judd Apatow comedies in which the shlubby arrested adolescent always gets the girl, find that those happy endings constantly elude them and conclude, 'It's not fair'?" — From Ann Hornaday's Washington Post op-ed

It didn't take long for Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow to respond, calling her article "horribly insulting and misinformed" and that she "used tragedy to promote herself with idiotic thoughts."

But their responses completely miss the mark. Ann Hornaday's article was one more voice saying that there is something wrong with the stories we tell ourselves as a culture, whether it's a sense of toxic entitlement, silencing and devaluing women's experiences or suffocating men with a narrow definition of masculinity. Ann Hornaday argues that movies, including Apatow's, "powerfully condition what we desire, expect and feel we deserve" from reality, and therefore we have a responsibility to think critically about the messages we're spreading.

Feminists unite: 20 Most inspiring quotes >>

Rogen and Apatow are not the victims here

Ultimately, it doesn't matter if Ann Hornaday was wrong about Apatow's movies or Hollywood movies in general. Apatow and Rogen had an opportunity to have a real conversation about women and the tragedy in Isla Vista. They had an opportunity to talk about the ways men can make the world a better place for women. They could have promoted the #YesAllWomen hashtag, or the importance of supporting women's voices in media. They could have discussed the complications of the narrative they both have promoted in which a woman's body is a plot-prize to be won.

Both Rogen and Apatow have enormous sway with men and women across the country and they could have used their platform to amplify a larger conversation. Instead, they defended themselves against the suggestion that their movies could have any tie to the world that Rodger lived in, and then they used their platform to shut down a woman's voice.

No singular thing caused Elliot Rodger to murder six people on Friday, but all of us are complicit in the culture that made it possible, especially and until we actively try to change it.

Photo credit: WENN.com

In the wake of the UCSB massacre, #YesAllWomen is turning the world's eyes toward the blatant misogyny women experience every single day, and some of your favorite celebrities are sharing their stories and thoughts.

Felicia Day, Gabourey Sidibe, Lucas Neff, Sophia Bush, James Van Der Beek and Lena Dunham all tweeted their own #YesAllWomen messages, with Mara Wilson weighing in on Facebook.

When a woman makes a video, most comments are about tearing apart her looks. Or if they'd "do" her. With a man, almost none. #YesAllWomen

— Felicia Day (@feliciaday) May 26, 2014

A longer #YesAllWomen comment: http://t.co/AmAxRaDWlS

— Felicia Day (@feliciaday) May 26, 2014

I can't stop reading all of the #YesAllWomen tweets. I'm so moved by so many of them.

— Gabourey Sidibe (@GabbySidibe) May 26, 2014

The fact that there is no "Matronizing" tells you all you need to know about the gender history of dominant power structures #YesAllWomen

— Lucas Neff (@RealLucasNeff) May 26, 2014

I shouldn't have to hold my car keys in hand like a weapon & check over my shoulder every few seconds when I walk at night #YesAllWomen

— Sophia Bush (@SophiaBush) May 25, 2014

#YesAllWomen Because recognition of human dignity elevates all of us.

— James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) May 26, 2014

In high school a very disturbed boy told me if I didn't choose to love him he would make me, followed by a series of graphic threats...

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) May 26, 2014

... My school handled it quickly and never questioned how I'd "provoked" him and it told me that I matter. I wish that for every woman.

— Lena Dunham (@lenadunham) May 26, 2014

Not so much joining in on the #YesAllWomen bandwagon are Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow, who slammed Washington Post writer Ann Hornaday for saying movies like Neighbors and others help create a culture that objectifies women.

Seth Rogen & Judd Apatow: Why not support #YesAllWomen instead? >>

Other non-celebs weighed in, sharing their own disturbing everyday experiences on what it's like to be a woman in a culture that still perpetuates sexism in both subtle and obvious ways.

At about 14 years old, a man followed me from his car. I had to run the opposite direction and hide behind a dumpster. #YesAllWomen

— Alyssa Rios (@AlyWoah) May 27, 2014

#YesAllWomen because being called a Feminist should not be used as an insult.

— Dani Horbiak (@Dani516) May 27, 2014

Because I've been afraid to speak out about sexual harassment in my work environment in fear of being labeled "problematic" #YesAllWomen

— Brittany Pawlowski (@BrittPawlowski) May 27, 2014

#YesAllWomen Because men going on spree shootings because they can't get laid isn't even a new thing http://t.co/IWJM0bdwWo

— Lindsey (@lmdragun) May 27, 2014

Because "friend zoned" implies that a woman is not free to refuse a man without being accused of exiling him "unfairly". #YesAllWomen

— Tara (@HillHouseRock) May 27, 2014

Tell us: What is your #YesAllWomen story?

Photo credit: Dennis Van Tine/Future Image/WENN

In the wake of 22-year-old Elliot Rodger's violent rampage in Isla Vista, California, over Memorial Day weekend, journalist Ann Hornaday — along with countless writers, reporters and members of the media — weighed in on the tragedy everyone is still grappling to come to terms with.

But what Hornaday had to say in her pointed Washington Post op-ed isn't sitting well with some entertainment industry insiders, likely because she essentially says they are to blame.

"Indeed, as important as it is to understand Rodger's actions within the context of the mental illness he clearly suffered, it's just as clear that his delusions were inflated, if not created, by the entertainment industry he grew up in," the film critic penned.

Rodger — whose father, Peter, was assistant director on The Hunger Games — killed six University of California, Santa Barbara students before taking his own life. Prior to the attacks, he spelled out his motive in a disturbing video posted online and in a 140-page manifesto titled My Twisted World.

UCSB shooter named as Hunger Games second unit director's son >>

According to Hornaday, Rodger's gripes about being rejected by "the females of the human species" and his need to prove himself as "the true alpha male" were direct reflections of "the toxic double helix of insecurity and entitlement that comprises Hollywood's DNA."

The problem? White men control mass entertainment, she opined. And those white men, she boldly claimed, are filled with "escapist fantasies [which] so often revolve around vigilantism and sexual wish-fulfillment (often, if not always, featuring a steady through-line of casual misogyny)."

To hammer home her point, Hornaday singles out director Judd Apatow for his "comedies in which the shlubby arrested adolescent always gets the girl." How many men who were raised on such movies, she wonders, feel irrationally angry when they fail to get their own happy ending? Or feel unfairly left out of the stereotypical college experience when their own doesn't match "outsized frat-boy fantasies like Neighbors" that are brimming with "sex and fun and pleasure"?

Seth Rogen, who starred in Neighbors, expressed his outrage over the mention on Twitter, saying "@AnnHornaday I find your article horribly insulting and misinformed. How dare you imply that me getting girls in movies caused a lunatic to go on a rampage?"

The essay similarly incensed Apatow, who responded, "She uses tragedy to promote herself with idiotic thoughts… most of Earth can't find a mate — someone to love. People who commit murder of numerous people have mental health issues of some type."

Seth Rogen and Judd Apatow slam Elliot Rodger connection >> 

And therein lies the crux.

Although Hornaday does note that Rodger must have been suffering from some sort of mental illness, her argument still places much of the blame somewhere other than the individual. In that respect, I worry that it falls within the same wheelhouse as the affluenza defense, a term that went viral late last year when Texas teen Ethan Couch received only probation after killing four people while driving drunk. The argument that kept him from going to jail? That he suffers from "affluenza," a rare (imaginary) condition he developed because his wealthy parents let him get away with anything.

"If our cinematic grammar is one of violence, sexual conquest and macho swagger — thanks to male studio executives who green-light projects according to their own pathetic predilections — no one should be surprised when those impulses take luridly literal form in the culture at large," Hornaday said.

We respect the point that Hornaday is trying to make: that women are woefully underrepresented behind the scenes in Hollywood (accounting for only 16 percent of directors, producers, writers and other creatives in the biz), and that they are often misrepresented on camera.

Having said that, I'm of the belief that people are responsible for their own actions. At the exact moment Rodger was choosing to act in violence, countless others were choosing to act in compassion or love or selflessness. He made a selfish decision. He chose hate. And because of his actions, the world has lost six bright young souls.

And, truth be told, I happen to like those Judd Apatow movies in which the "shlubby" guy gets the happy ending. Those "shlubby" guys are often the good ones. The ones who treat women with respect, and who are smart and funny and kind. The ones who aren't just embracing the #YesAllWomen hashtag but are also using it to support women's rights. The ones who are nothing like Elliot Rodger.

Seth Rogen, Judd Apatow: Why not support #YesAllWomen instead? >>

What do you think? Let us know via comments and by taking our poll.

Photo credit: Ed Araquel/Sony Pictures Entertainment

It's no secret that James Franco and Seth Rogen have a hot bromance going. They star in movies together, they make parody videos together, and Franco recently made headlines with an impressive set of nude paintings of Rogen.

Their newest film, The Interview, is a testament to this friendship — even going so far as showing the two confessing their man-love for one another at the end of the trailer. Of course we know they're "acting" in the trailer, but judging from their history together, we're pretty sure they really mean it.

In the film, Rogen and Franco play TV personalities who score an interview with No. 1 fan Kim Jong-Un, dictator of North Korea. The CIA then recruits the men to assassinate Kim, which presents a host of challenges, since they are obviously the two least qualified assassins on the planet.

In celebration of Franco and Rogen's most recent collaboration, we decided to look back over the duo's 15-year friendship and show you where it all began...

Freaks and Geeks (1999–2000)

The short-lived NBC series Freaks and Geeks introduced us to a host of awesome young talent, Jason Segel and Busy Phillips included. It was a cult hit, and although it was cancelled after just one season, it seems to have been in production long enough to kindle a bromance between Rogen and Franco. Just look at Rogen's baby cheeks and signature muttonchops in the GIF below. He and Franco had an easy comfort on screen even then. We can only wonder if executive producer Judd Apatow knew then what he was starting.

Where are they now? Samm Levine and Freaks and Geeks cast >>

GIF via YouTube

Knocked Up (2007)

Although they didn't share screen time, Rogen and Franco reunited with Apatow on the 2007 hit Knocked Up, no doubt planting the seed for their following collaboration. Rogen plays an inadvertent dad-to-be opposite Katherine Heigl, who does an interview scene with Franco.

Photo credit: Universal Studios

Are Judd Apatow movies to blame for the UCSB shooting? >>

Pineapple Express (2008)

In this buddy comedy penned by Rogen (story by Apatow), Franco and Rogen play stoner buddies on the run from a drug lord. This was the first film featuring the two as co-stars, and it whet audiences' whistles for more. Much more.

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

This Is the End (2013)

Although Rogen and Franco were insanely raunchy, audiences couldn't get enough of them in this dude-ishly ridiculous apocalypse flick, directed by Rogen and writing partner Evan Goldberg.

This Is the End movie review: Doomsday laughers >>

Photo credit: Columbia Pictures

"Bound 3" (2014)

Do you remember where you were when you first watched the Rogen/Franco interpretation of Kimye's "Bound 2" video? We were glued to our desks, heads exploding. "Bound 3" is everything the original isn't — and we love it.

10 Moments Seth Rogen was Kim Kardashian in "Bound 3" >>

GIF via YouTube

Seth in the Nude (2014)

We thought we'd seen it all with that motorcycle make-out session, but Franco and Rogen managed to shock us all over again with these nude paintings by Franco. According to an interview with Today, Franco explained that he painted the pieces in response to another artist who he claims appropriated Rogen's image in a bid for attention. Whatever the reason, none of us will ever be able to get the images out of our mind. Thanks, James... thanks so much.

Photo credit: James Franco

The Interview (2014)

We can't stop laughing at this trailer. Rogen and Franco's finely tuned chemistry is obviously out in full force for this flick, and the results are side-splitting. No word yet on how long we'll have to wait for their next project together. In the meantime, sit back and enjoy a peek at The Interview, which opens in theaters in October.

Photo credit: FayesVision/WENN.com

Seth Rogen and James Franco have caught the attention of Kim Jung Un with their new film. And although a spokesman for the North Korean leader said the film is an example of "desperation," he said Jung Un will probably see it anyway.

James Franco claims nude selfies are "what the people want" >>

The film, The Interview, follows two celebs (played by Rogen and Franco) who are supposed to assassinate Kim Jung Un after the CIA learns that he likes their show.

Kim Myong-choi, the unofficial spokesman for the North Korean leader (and executive director for the Center for North Korea-US Peace), told the Telegraph that although Franco and Rogen are only joking about the topic, it could be taken seriously because of events around the world.

"A film about the assassination of a foreign leader mirrors what the US has done in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria and Ukraine," he said. "And let us not forget who killed Kennedy — Americans.

"In fact, President Obama should be careful in case the US military wants to kill him as well," he added. "There is a special irony in this story line as it shows the desperation of the US government and American society."

VIDEO: Snoop Dogg and Seth Rogen get high, discuss Game of Thrones >>

Myong-choi is obviously not adverse to all non-Korean films, and said that he enjoys British films more than American films.

"James Bond is a good character and those films are much more enjoyable," he said.

Rogen doesn't seem too worried about people taking his movie seriously. He wrote on Twitter that he was thrilled Kim Jung Un is paying attention.

Apparently Kim Jong Un plans on watching #TheInterview. I hope he likes it!! http://t.co/5VrsgYlydE

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) June 20, 2014

The Interview is out in October — watch the trailer here

Photo credit: WENN.com

After a North Korean spokesperson issued a statement denouncing Seth Rogen and James Franco's new film, The Interview, leader Kim Jung-un decided to make his own declaration about the film — and it's not a good one.

The Interview: Seth Rogen and James Franco finally say "I love you" >>

A spokesman for the foreign ministry of North Korea issued an official statement calling the movie about the North Korean leader's assassination a "wanton act of terror" and said there will be a "resolute and merciless response" if the U.S. doesn't ban the film.

The Interview stars Rogen and Franco as tabloid journalists who are invited to North Korea, then hired by the CIA to kill Jong-un.

According to Yahoo, a spokesman for North Korea released a statement to North Korea's official news agency, KCNA, and said the film was the work of "gangster moviemakers" and should not be released.

"The act of making and screening such a movie that portrays an attack on our top leadership... is a most wanton act of terror and act of war, and is absolutely intolerable," the spokesman said.

Rogen spoke recently with Yahoo Movies about writing the script after seeing the access journalists have to world leaders. He said, "We read as much as we could that was available on the subject. We talked to people in the government whose job it is to associate with North Korea, or be experts on it."

Shhh, Seth Rogen: "Piece of s***" Biebs has something to say >>

He joked about the threats on Twitter on Wednesday, June 25.

People don't usually wanna kill me for one of my movies until after they've paid 12 bucks for it. Hiyooooo!!!

— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) June 25, 2014

The Interview is due in theaters on Oct. 14.

Jason Segel naked?

Jason Segel is funny — we've got nothing against him. But do any of us want to see him naked? Or think about him throwing down with his wife on his living room floor in front of a video camera? Not really. To take this one step further, the return of R-rated movies is starting to feel reminiscent of bad '70s porn. Why is the chick (forgive us for saying this out loud) hotter than the dude? Jason Segel and Cameron Diaz? We're well aware that Segel has dated some hot women in real life, but he's a movie star. All we're saying is these R-rated Hollywood couples don't look like our neighbors. Seth Rogen is guilty of this almost every time he makes a movie. He's cast (most notably) Katherine Heigl and Rose Byrne as his love interests. We're not trying to be superficial here, we're just saying let's level the playing field a bit.

Cameron Diaz on the one thing that falls away in your 40s >> 

The cloud?

Jason Segel's character, Jay, makes a valid point in this movie. Nobody understands the cloud. Most people over the age of 24 are intimidated by it and have no idea how to use it. Watching a movie that exaggerates that fear and takes it to its worst-case scenario isn't going to instill much confidence in hesitant cloud-users.

Is it a food or a sex game? Sex Tape cast plays our game >> 

Weak premise

Is it even possible for something to be accidentally stored on the cloud and then have it accidentally disseminated to several purchased devices? Moreover, how many people in your immediate circle are giving super-expensive tablets to friends and family? Maybe one here and there, but a multitude of tablet gifts? That seems like a bit of a reach. If you can relate to this in your immediate circle, your friends are way cooler than ours.

EXCLUSIVE CLIP: Shockers Cameron Diaz won't tell her mom in Sex Tape >>

Kid cliché

Kids are really getting a bad rap in movies today, don't you think? There seems to be a bit of a "we have kids, our lives are over — no more fun, no more sex" perception. We're to believe that Jay and Annie couldn't keep their hands off one another until they had kids and now they have to schedule sex. Where is this coming from? Is this Hollywood's idea of what it must be like to have kids when you don't have a staff?

Infants can stall your sex life for a bit, but from there you rely on setting early bedtimes for your kids (who cares if they don't go to sleep — make them read books or pretend you don't hear them playing with their toys until they get sleepy). Disney movies weren't created for kids, they were created for parents to plop their kids in front of them so they can sneak away to the bedroom and get fah-reaky. Trade babysitting time with other neighbors with kids. You have to be more creative, but it's not the sex life death sentence that movies portray it to be.

Trailer

The trailer did nothing to sell us on this movie. Cameron looks great and is an inspiration to those in their 40s, but we're just kind of tired of seeing her in her underwear (and by "we," we mean women). From there, we see a lot of panic, smashing of motherboards and an attack dog. Meh. There really wasn't anything in that trailer that made people want to race to the movie theater and pay way too much for a ticket and concessions.

The Seth Rogen and James Franco action comedy about a couple of unassuming journalists carrying out an unlikely plot to assassinate North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, will open in theaters on Christmas Day, instead of its original Oct. 10 release date.

Seth Rogen & James Franco Vogue spoof: "It had to be done" >>

The push marks a big sign of confidence on Sony's part, since Christmas releases are usually huge paydays for studios. The Interview will now be opening against Paddington, Into the Woods, Big Eyes, Unbroken and Hot Tub Time Machine 2, but with plenty of college students out on holiday break (and eager for a break from Mom and Dad), chances are, the film will have a very strong opening box office.

As long as Kim Jong-un doesn't blow up Hollywood first. The truculent North Korean leader has made his displeasure at the film's story line abundantly clear, claiming The Interview is the result of "gangster moviemakers." A spokesperson for Kim Jong-un even declared the movie a "wanton act of terror" and said that there would be a "resolute and merciless response" if the U.S. doesn't ban the film.

Kim Jung-un: Film about my assassination is desperate >>

Jong-un's unexpected response did very little to curb the film's release, and instead, stirred up even more media interest in the film, which has no doubt contributed to Sony's decision to seek out the more prominent release date.

Protestations aside, Jong-un's spokesperson did admit that the leader would probably watch the film anyway, which means there's a very real chance millions of Americans could be watching and laughing at Rogen and Franco attempting to assassinate Jong-un at the same time as he is this Christmas.

Let's hope that Jong-un is as charmed by the comedy duo's bromance as we are.

The Interview comes out Dec. 25. Watch the trailer here: