James Franco's Instagram scandal: A hoax?

Social media has been blowing up over accusations James Franco hit on a girl half his age in New York City.

The 35-year-old actor met Lucy Clode, 17, outside his Broadway show 'Of Mice & Men' earlier this week and filmed an Instagram video. He asked her to tag him in it, then messaged her. In the texts, he asked her how old she was, what hotel she was staying at, and for her phone number.

Some believe the messages are real, BUT it just so happens the official trailer for his new film 'Palo Alto' hit the web the same day.

Coincidence?

The new film is based on Franco's 2010 book of short stories. It's a high school drama based on a romance between a single father, who coaches a high school soccer team, and a young student.

http://youtu.be/sjosuxDnJLg

The movie stars Franco and Emma Roberts.

Based on that trailer, the messaging scandal with a teenage girl may have just been an elaborate hoax orchestrated to promote the film. After all, Franco is known for being quite the prankster.