Franco learns from unwise photo post

Movie star James Franco upset his big business links when he posted a shot of his hand down the front of his crotch as part of a Twitter-based art project.

The defiant actor felt sure he could post whatever he wanted on Twitter and he's convinced artists recognised what he was doing.

But he told Playboy magazine the men he does business with were not so taken with his racy message.

"I thought Twitter was where I'd post cool photos and videos - a kind of collage, an outlet where I could just throw my scraps - and I posted some of a big art project I was doing.

"I knew people in the art community would see them as art, but they were perceived as something else... I had underage followers on Twitter. Don't follow me or Lady Gaga if you're underage.

"Some companies I worked with reminded me that my image is... connected with their image and they were not happy."

-AAP