James Franco Tries To Seduce 17-Year-Old Via Instagram

James Franco has some 'splainin' to do!

The 35-year-old actor has found himself in some hot water after a racy text conversation with a 17-year-old Scottish girl were leaked to the Internet. And it's looking all sorts of pervy for the Oscar nominee.

On Monday night, Scottish lasse, Lucy Clode, waited outside of James' Broadway production of Of Mice & Men. When Franco emerged, she took a photo of herself and the actor in the background, posted it to Instagram and then the 27 Hours actor reached out to her via Instagram direct message and struck up a dialogue with the pretty blonde. Even though she is more than half his age -- the This Is The End star asked her if she wanted to meet up. The conversation got even more heated when Franco asks if he should get a hotel room.

Umm ... what?! While film star doesn't say anything explicit, we don't think the actor is looking to have a PG-rated pizza party with the teen.

Classy move, Franco!

The age of consent in New York state is 17, so he isn't doing anything that's illegal -- just super creepy.

It's also very possible the one-time Oscar host was pulling a social media blitz for his new film, Palo Alto. In the film, Franco plays Mr. B -- a high school soccer coach who seduces his much younger student (played by Emma Roberts). Is this latest incident life imitating art, or is art imitating life?

We don't know! But if this is a prank to drum up press for the film -- we think it's a bit of an odd/TERRIBLE choice. Couldn't the producers just organize some type of flash mob or something? Not a perv-tastic possible hook up with Scottish almost-jail bate!

Franco has yet to comment on the potential sticky situation (pun intended), but the actor did tweet, "I HOPE PARENTS KEEP THEIR TEENS AWAY FROM ME. Thank you."

Whatever is going on here -- we don't like it!