After his Instagram revealed his flirtatious relationship with a 17-year-old Scottish tourist, James Franco admitted how embarrassed he was while appearing on "Live! With Kelly and Michael" Friday morning.
In an effort not to feel "awkward" on the show, Franco requested to bring up the underage Instagram scandal right away. The actor suggested that Instagram and similar social media sites can be very deceiving.
"I'm embarrassed and I'm just a model of how social media is tricky," said Franco. "It's a way people meet each other today, but what I've learned, I guess just 'cause I'm new to it, it's like, you don't know who's on the other end. You meet somebody in person, you get a feel for them, but you don't know who you're talking to ... so I used bad judgment and I learned my lesson."
Originally Franco was on the talk show to talk about "Of Mice and Men," his play which is now in previews and costarring Chris O'Dowd of "Bridesmaids." The show will open April 16th at Broadway's Longacre Theatre.
Lucy Corde, the 17-year-old Scottish tourist, met Franco outside of Longacre's stage door. After taking a picture/video together, Franco urged Corde to tag him once she posted it on Instagram.
During their flirty online chit chat, Corde confessed that she was only 17 and visiting New York City as an early 18th-birthday gift from her mom.
Although they could've been altered, screen shots show Franco asking Corde questions that include: How old are you? Do you have a boyfriend? Can I see you? Where are you staying? Should I rent a room there?
As proof that it was really him, Franco sent two pictures of himself. One picture included him holding up a piece of paper with Corde's name on it.
Despite Franco requesting Corde keep their exchange a secret, the teenager couldn't help but share her interaction with the celebrity.
"Unfortunately in my position -- I mean, I have a very good life -- but not only do I have to go through the embarrassing rituals of meeting someone, [but] sometimes if I do that, it gets published for the world, so now it's like doubly embarrassing," said Franco on the talk show, without mentioning Corde's age.
At Franco's defense, the age of consent in New York is 17. However Corde's grandmother, 84-year-old Beryl Sussex, isn't buying it.
"I think he ought to get a slap on the wrist and I know my son, Lucy's dad, wouldn't be afraid to give it to him," she told the MailOnline. "It shows how little these famous actors know about normal people and how to behave. They're out of touch with reality."
Meanwhile, some are implying that the whole situation could be a PR stunt for Franco's future movie "Palo Alto," a movie about a teacher-and-student relationship.
