James Franco publicly responded to rumors that he recently tried to pick up a 17-year-old girl using social media.
The rumors, which began circulating Thursday, claim that the actor pursued Lucy Clode, a 17-year-old tourist from Scotland, on Instagram. Clode posted her alleged conversation with the 35-year-old actor online (the conversation's screenshots have been removed from Imgur, as has her Instagram profie).
Franco appeared on Live! With Kelly and Michael on Friday to discuss his actions, saying he's embarrassed.
'I was feeling awkward,' Franco said. 'I guess I'm just a model of how social media is tricky. It's a way people meet each other today. ... You don't know who's on the other end. ... I used bad judgment and I learned my lesson.'
Franco reportedly met Clode outside of the Broadway theater where he's currently starring in Of Mice and Men.
In the video below, Franco notices the girl and asks her to tag him.
Clode's images then indicate that Franco began direct messaging her asking her 'You're 18?' to which she responds 'nearly 18.' The flirting continues though, and Franco asks how long she is staying in New York, if she would meet him and if he should get a hotel room. He also allegedly provided selfies to prove his identity to her.
It should also be noted that the age of consent in New York is 17 years old, meaning Franco wasn't breaking any laws.
Franco took to Twitter Thursday to comment on the rumors. The picture he linked to has since been removed, but a screenshot is below.
I'M NOT! I HOPE PARENTS KEEP THEIR TEENS AWAY FROM ME. Thank you http://t.co/I1d4n3yVe0
- James Franco (@JamesFrancoTV) April 2, 2014
The timing of the incident does prove curious - Franco has an upcoming movie, Palo Alto, in which he plays a soccer coach who begins a romantic relationship with an underage girl (Emma Roberts). The trailer for the film also dropped Friday, just a day after the news of Franco's scandal broke.
Franco's publicity reps did not immediately respond for comment.
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