If you’re in need of a hug, Jerry Seinfeld is probably the last person you should ask.

American singer Kesha learned this the hard way this week when she approached the celebrated comedian on the red carpet at an event in Washington DC.

Kesha, 30, interrupted Seinfeld, 63, in the middle of an interview to express her love for him and ask him for a hug.

But Seinfeld wasn’t having a bar of it.

“I’m Kesha, I love you so much,” Kesha, best known for her hit single, Tik Tok, said.

“Oh thanks,” Seinfeld responded, looking unimpressed.

“Can I give you a hug?” she asked, as Seinfeld slowly backed away.

“No thanks,” the funnyman responded, prompting the singer to beg: “Please? A little one?”.

“Yeah, no thanks,” he countered, before Kesha gave up and walked off.

It soon became clear Seinfeld did not recognise his famous fan, telling the interviewer: “I don’t know who that was … I wish her well.”

See the awkward moment below

LAST NIGHT @KeshaRose found out @JerrySeinfeld is not a #Hugger — Is it hard to be a non-hugger in 2017? pic.twitter.com/92OoMFCNkd

— Tommy McFLY (@TommyMcFLY) June 6, 2017

Since October 2014, Kesha has been embroiled in a long-running legal battle with her former producer Dr Luke, whom she accused of sexual assault and battery, sexual harassment, gender violence, emotional abuse and violation of California business practices.

Dr Luke denied all the accusations, with a judge eventually dismissing Kesha’s abuse claims.

After a forced hiatus thanks to the legal proceedings, Kesha recently returned to making music, recording two new songs with The Eagles of Death Metal, the band whose November 2015 gig at the Bataclan concert hall in Paris was targeted by a terror attack.

Meanwhile, Seinfeld is heading to Australia in August for a stand-up tour, performing in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth.