James Franco has broken his silence after it was revealed yesterday he had attempted to pick up a teenage girl using Instagram.

“I’m embarrassed and I guess I’m just a model of how social media is tricky,” the actor said on Live With Kelly and Michael this morning.

“You just don’t know the other end… I used bad judgment. I learned my lesson.”

This is his first official statement he’s made about the scandal, although yesterday he tweeted, “I HOPE PARENTS KEEP THEIR TEENS AWAY FROM ME."

https://twitter.com/JamesFrancoTV/statuses/451405869683855360

Controversy arose when an 18-year-old Scottish tourist named Lucy Clode posted screenshots of private messages on Instagram and texts she swapped with the 35-year-old actor.

According to the exchange, the two first met at the stage door for his Broadway show Of Mice and Men, which he is currently starring in.

After telling her to tag him in the pictures, he reached out to the teen via Instagram and proceeded to ask Lucy a series of questions—like how long she was in New York and whether or not she had a boyfriend.

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Even after divulging her age—she informed the Spring Breakers star that her trip to New York was an eighteenth birthday present—he continued to pursue her, even asking if he should get a hotel room.

While coming clean, James admitted the situation was uncomfortable and he was nervous.

“I was feeling awkward—I didn’t want to come on the show and just feel awkward,” he said. “I’m embarrassed.”

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Interestingly enough, the first trailer for James’ flick Palo Alto—which tells the story of an inappropriate relationship between a teacher (played by James) and a student (Emma Roberts) was released this week, prompting some to believe the whole scandal is an elaborate publicity stunt for the film.

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