James Franco, Harmony Korine, David Letterman, Meryl Streep [VIDEO] 'Late Show' Host Explains Ban on 'Spring Breakers' Director to Star

Before directing Spring Breakers, Harmony Korine was apparently stirring up trouble with "The Late Show" host David Letterman. According to last night's interview with actor James Franco, Letterman had banned Korinne after a series of awkward interviews and even an incident involving Meryl Streep. Luckily, though, with Korine's recent success and Franco's pleas, it looks like Dave might have lifted the ban.

According to The Hollywood Reporter:

Between 1997-98, Korine appeared on Late Show air three times, always disheveled and slightly unhinged in a skater-stoner kind of way. It began with an interview to promote the controversial film Kids, which he wrote at age 18, and then in support of his directorial debut, Gummo, and finally, a book he wrote, A Crackup at the Race Riots.

Before his fourth interview on the show, Korine was booted by Letterman.

Last night, Korine's friend and star of Spring Breakers, James Franco, was prodding the late night talk show host to explain the situation. Franco talked to Korine about the ban saying, "he said he was a little out of it...Harmony is a very sane guy now, a great artist and great person to work with, but I think he had a period where he was going a little off the rails, so maybe he was on something that night."

At this, Letterman told his side of the story:

"I went upstairs to greet Meryl Streep and welcome her to the show, and I knock on the door...and she was not in there. And I looked around, and she was not in there, and I found Harmony going through her purse. True story. And so I said, 'That's it, put her things back in her bag and then get out.'"

James then told Letterman that Korine was in a better state of mind these days and that he should lift the ban. To this, Dave said he would be "more than happy" to have Korine back on the show.

Here is a video clip of last night's interview: