James Franco has spoken out about seducing a 17-year-old schoolgirl online, saying he acted like a complete “gentleman”.

The actor’s cringe-worthy chat-up lines to Scottish teenager Lucy Clode were leaked last month, and he later confessed it WAS him, and admitted he’s a good example of how not to use social media.

Speaking to Howard Stern, James Franco insisted that he was behaving like a “gentleman” when talking to Clode.

He said: “Here’s the thing, the way that the news wants to do it, because the way flashy headlines [are], they make it like, I’m pursuing young women.

“I’m not going to high schools looking for dates. I’m leaving my work and they’re coming there. I’m seeing attractive women. And look, my fan base is like, you know, 17-year-old to 30-year-old women – that’s my biggest fan base.”

He continued: “I was a gentleman, I said, ‘Do you have a boyfriend?,’ and her response was, ‘Not when you’re around’. So that to me sounds like, OK, she’s interested.”

Explaining the student’s actions, he said: “Here’s what I’ll say in her defence – I don’t think she posted it knowing what was gonna happen. I was like anybody, just trying to meet somebody. It’s just that my dirty s**t gets put out internationally.”

Blonde teenager Lucy ran into the star in New York on a birthday trip with her mother, before posting a short video of their encounter.

It appears the video, which shows Franco in a cap and glasses, caught the 127 Hours actor’s attention as the pair begun to message.

Franco works fast to establish where Miss Clode is from and how long she will be in New York.

He then seems to fire off three questions in quick succession: ‘You’re 18?’ ‘Who are you with?’ and ‘Do you have a bf (boyfriend)?’

Miss Clode replies: ‘Nearly 18, my mum and not if you’re around.’

Franco then asks exactly when her birthday is and where she is staying in New York.

The conversation then appeared to switch to text message, and Franco asks ‘Can I see you? You’re single? What’s the hotel? Should I rent a room?’

When Miss Clode, from Dollar, voices concerns the conversation could be an April Fool by an imposter, Franco posts a picture of himself to prove it is genuine.

The sensible teen then decides: ‘I’ll come back when I’m 18.’

Franco responds: ‘If you don’t want to meet text me when you do.’

He has since released a tweet refuting that he likes teenage women (17 is, in fact, above the age of consent in New York, where the pair apparently met). The actor apparently published an Instagram picture of himself with the words, “Why are you thirsty for underage ones?” before he tweeted it, adding. “I’m not! I hope parents keep their teens away from me! Thank you” The image has now been deleted, enshrouding the incident in more mystery.