James Franco Confesses Why He Hit On 17-Year-Old Girl -- Interview

How about this timing!? On April 4, three days after he hit on a 17-year-old girl on Instagram, James appeared on ‘Live With Kelly and Michael,’ and surprisingly, James didn’t waste any time addressing the 800-pound gorilla in the room.

Though the heat has been turned all the way up on him thanks to an alleged Instagram flirtation with a 17-year-old girl, James Franco, 35, bravely hit the set of Live With Kelly and Michael on April 4. And right away, he decided to address his social media controversy.

James Franco Apologizes For Scandal: ‘I Used Bad Judgment’

It wasn’t clear whether or not Kelly or Michael would address the scandal, but James obviously wasn’t going to make his appearance and pretend that nothing was going on. So right away he owned up to everything.

Lucy Clode: See Pics Of James Franco’s 17-Year-Old Crush

“I’m embarrassed,” James somberly admitted. “I guess I’m just a model about how social media’s tricky. It’s a way people meet each other today, but what I’ve learned is you don’t know who’s on the other end. I used bad judgment and I learned my lesson.”

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James then explained how he feels he’s in a tough spot, because as a famous person it’s nearly impossible for him to make a connection without it becoming news. “Unfortunately in my position, not only do I have to go through the embarrassing rituals of meeting someone, but if I do that, then it gets published for the world so it’s doubly embarrassing.”

Kelly Ripa, to her credit, knew just how to lighten the mood after James’ brave confession. “I promise I will not reveal our text messages.”

James Franco’s Instagram Scandal

James found himself in hot water when screenshots of Instagram and text conversations with 17-year-old fan, Lucy Clode, leaked on the internet. The Instagram back-and-forth showed James asking Lucy for her number and where she was staying in New York (Lucy is from Scotland).

After Lucy supposedly gave James her number, subsequent screenshots showed that they had a quick exchange where James again asked if Lucy was single, where she was staying, and if he should rent his own room there. The actor then sent Lucy two pictures of himself to prove that it was him. Obviously when the conversations went public, the internet exploded and James took a ton of grief for hitting on such a young fan, even though the age of consent in New York is 17.

But you have to give James some credit for going on TV and completely owning up to his mistakes. He got tripped up for sure, but he wasn’t afraid to admit it and we think he’s extremely brave for doing that. Do you agree, HollywoodLifers? Let us know!

– Andrew Gruttadaro

Follow @AndrewGrutt

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Wow people she is not a minor.. so hang that up.. she’s of concenting age all there is to it…

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lets put the fact the In NYC and her home she is of consenting age aside.. lets put her age aside altogether… the problem was how horribly untactful that was. JF wtf ham bone? just gunna get right to it uh? Being famous means you dont have to show a girl a good time before you make moves? I’d hope you were going to atleast open the hotel room door for her.. prob why she turned you down..

Whoah, wait. Why 18? Why are people going ape over 17 (which IS of consent in NY among other states), but suddenly on her 18th birthday months away — oh, it’s totally-oh-so-cool-no-prob? Huh?

Yeah, when she starts as a freshman in college in late August/early September, she’s going to be sooo different, right? :)

He’s not in position to “manipulate” any more than any young girl in general. So if he’s “sick” for that age of consent, he’s “sick” for any gal under 21, if not under 24, if we’re talking about the ability to wield purposeful or incidental “manipulation”.

It’s James Franco I would want him!

17 is still legal age of consent

A 35 Y/O GROWN MAN WAS TRYING TO GET WITH A 17 YEAR OLD GIRL AND PEOPLE ARE COMMENDING HIM FOR “BRAVERY” AND “ADMITTING HIS MISTAKE”

HE IS ONLY SORRY HE GOT CAUGHT. THERE WAS NO MISTAKE TO HIM ABOUT THAT GIRL BEING <HALF HIS AGE. YALL ARE SICK.

People below are missing the point. The age of consent is 17 in New York and 16 in Scotland, so no, he was not pursuing a minor. She is not legally a minor

Priscilla Presley was 15 years old when her and Elvis Presley started dating. Big whoop. And like another commenter said, age of consent in New York is 17, and age of consen in Scotland is 16.

Why such a big fuzz about it? She’s from Scotland apparently, the age of consent there is 16.. So what they’re whining about is the age difference or what? He could pummel a 16 year old in the bum with no problems, except people apparently puking at the age difference… What a world we live in.

Since I started with my online business I earn $58 every 15 minutes. It sounds unbelievable but you wont forgive yourself if you don’t check it out.

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dang…no shame these days for anyone famous or not.

he said hes sorry and i guess your perfect and dont make mistakes, look at the video that shows he is shamed and hes a human being.

If he was shamed, he’d focus on his actions – how soliciting sex with a minor is a terrible judgement call. Instead he focuses on her actions and says that his bad judgement was around trusting the wrong person.

Besides, he’s an actor – faking shame is easy with a little coaching from a publicist.

Wrong. Wrong. Wrong.

As soon as Franco found out the girl was 17…he should have stopped pursuing her.
Instead, he asks about her hotel, whether he should get his own room, etc.

Sorry. He could hit on a million women, even via Instagram….but keep them 18+ please.

i r- read it 2 times I dont think he knew she was 17

She said she would be back when she was 18. Then he ask her hotel and if he should rent a room

Meh, it’s obviously still a marketing ploy for his movie in which he plays a soccer coach who has a relationship with one of his students. ‘Palo Alto’.

I’m more pissed off at the girl for posting the conversation. Like, obviously she was just attention-crazy. I’m 21 now, but even if i was in that situation I wouldn’t go screenshotting everything and throwing it to the media.

I would! I would want the world to know that he has no problem hooking up with minors. I wouldn’t be looking for fame – I’d be looking to shame him for his lack of judgement. He should stick to 18+ at least – he’s 35 for goodness sake!

He is trying to blame the girl as well who is half is age. She is smarter than him that is all there is to it.

so sad.

You all are ignorant. Who cares if he was 55, she is of legal age to give consent. Someone tell me the difference between 17 and 18. It doesn’t even matter what the difference is. She is of LEGAL age period.