Comedian Jerry Seinfeld has commented on why he thrice denied hugs from pop star Kesha, joking that her approach was "a borderline harassment case" and he needed to know who she was first.
The moment, which was captured by US radio station 94.7 Fresh FM during an event in Washington DC on Monday night (local time), saw the 'TiK ToK' singer interrupting an interview with Seinfeld and saying: "I love you so much. Can I give you a hug?"
"No thanks", the 63-year-old replied - prompting Kesha to try another two times, but to no avail.
The 30-year-old can then be heard groaning and walking away, before the comic laughs and says, simply: "I don't know who that was".
Offering an explanation on why he didn't just hug her in an interview with Extra, Seinfeld said he needed to know who she was first - and blamed that omission in his knowledge on his old age.
"I'm 63, I don't know every pop star. I don't know everyone," he told interviewer AJ Calloway.
"I was right in the middle of an interview - it was a little off. When you get to be my age and you've done a couple things, you have your own reality.
"In my reality, I don't hug a total stranger. I have to meet someone, say hello. I gotta start somewhere ."
Defending himself further, Seinfeld said "a hug is not the first moment of two humans" and joked that his first impression of the incident was that he going to be the victim in "a borderline harassment case".
"I'm sure I would've liked her, but I needed to know - who are you?" he said.
At the end of the interview, Seinfeld revealed he and Kesha discussed the awkward interaction later on at the event.
"She was very nice about it, we laughed about it," he said - but when asked whether he hugged her upon their second meeting, his answer remained the same.
"No."
Kesha has yet to publicly comment on the incident.
Newshub.
