Johnson was aware a clip had been posted on YouTube, but shortly after media attention was drawn to the video, it was taken off the site.
However, Johnson defended Tindall, who married the Queen's granddaughter Zara Phillips six weeks ago, and said the team was just blowing off some steam at Queenstown's Altitude bar.
"The manager of the bar has said the England players' behaviour was perfectly acceptable all through the evening," Johnson told gathered media in Dunedin yesterday.
"There is no implication from anyone there, that we've heard, that there has been any bad behaviour. It was the guys out having a few drinks, as other teams have done in the same town during the World Cup in their build-ups as well. So there is no difference; it is just the way it is being reported.
"Look, I've had my arm around 50 women in Queenstown aged from 7 months to 77. Everyone wants to get a piece of you and to get their photograph taken with you.
"We either lock ourselves away and don't talk to anyone or try and enjoy the experience as well - at the right time at the right place in the right way."
England is preparing to play Georgia at Otago Stadium tomorrow and Johnson, who made nine changes from the side that beat Argentina 13-9, should have been fielding questions about his line-up.
However, the incident has completely overshadowed the game. It was about eight minutes before someone asked a rugby-related question.
"If we get to the point where you can't go out because someone is going to film you and point the finger at you, then it is a pretty sad place," Johnson said.
"I don't want to have to lock people away and not let them out, or if we go out it is in VIP areas. I'd rather we'd be out and about in the general public.
"When you've got a rugby team - part of it is the bonding off the field as well. They worked very, very hard last week and produced a tough win under a lot of pressure. It was probably one of the last opportunities to do anything like that on this trip."