Did actor James Franco really try to sleep with a 17-year-old fan?

James Franco and Lucy Clode (photo: Instagram.com)

Actor James Franco (35) was caught flirting with a teenage fan on Instagram on April 1st (EST). Was it just the actor’s little April Fool’s Day joke to promote the upcoming film, ‘Palo Alto’, or was he really trying to sleep with a teenager?

A Scottish teenager, Lucy Clode (17), was waiting for the actor outside of Broadway show ‘Of Mice and Men’ in NYC to see James Franco. Fortunately the teen was able to film a short Instagram video and the actor asked Clode to tag him. Naturally the starstruck teen obliged to the actor’s request and later that night, Franco messaged Clode through Instagram directly.

The screen-grabs appeared the very next day and now Franco is accused of trying to sleep with a teenager. In the messages that was revealed, Franco asked if Clode was single and 18, where she was staying at, and her phone number. Clode was doubtful if it was really the actor and Franco sent her a selfie to prove it was really him. The teen told the actor, “I’ll come back when I’m 18.” but in the last i-message she wrote, “One second, I will meet you if you write my name on a piece of paper then send it to me with your face also in the picture, please.” Then Franco did as she wanted by sending another selfie of himself with the teen’s name on a piece of paper.

(photo: imgur.com/lucy clode)

It is unknown if Clode and Franco really met up after this message and had sex. Later, Franco responded to the leaked images and tweeted, “I’M NOT! I HOPE PARENTS KEEP THEIR TEENS AWAY FROM ME. Thank you”.

One of the tabloids, Hollywood Life, later claimed that this could be a big stunt by Franco to bring media’s attention to his upcoming film, ‘Palo Alto’.

Reporter MJ Kwak

Park Sae-jin swatchsjp@ajunews.com