James Franco Explains Asking Out Teenage Girl: 'I Used Bad Judgment'

April 4, 2014 — -- For the first time, James Franco has publicly spoken about the rumors he tried to pick up a 17-year-old girl on Instagram.

Reports, which broke Thursday, had that the 35-year-old actor met Lucy Clode, a tourist from Scotland, outside his Broadway show, "Of Mice and Men."

Then, the two started talking on Instagram and he began asking her name, age and if she had a boyfriend.

She said she was "nearly 18" -- but not yet.

Read: James Franco: Lindsay Lohan 'Told Lies' About Sleeping With Me

This morning, Franco explains his actions on "Live with Kelly and Michael," saying he was "embarrassed."

Host Michael Strahan gave Franco the room to address the reports.

Related Stories

Man kills wife, 3 kids in mass shooting: Police

• Apr 23, 12:35 PM

Trump, NY AG resolve dispute over $175M bond

• Apr 22, 12:14 PM

OJ Simpson dies at 76

• Apr 11, 6:32 PM

"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."

He continued, "I used bad judgment and I learned my lesson."

Related: James Franco Empathizes with Shia LaBeouf

He added that everyone has to go through the "embarrassing" ritual of meeting someone and "it gets published for the world" in his case.

The timing of this incident coincides with Franco's new movie "Palo Alto," where his character romances an underage girl. The actor has also been no stranger to performance art to publicize movies or art projects.