11 Awkward Encounters With Celebrities People Wish They Could Undo

Meeting a celebrity sounds like a dream come true, right?

But sometimes, these chance encounters turn into total cringe-fests that make you want to disappear into thin air faster than a superhero with an invisibility cloak.

Buckle up, because these stories will make you grateful you weren’t there to witness the awkwardness firsthand!

1. Jerry Seinfeld’s Triple Rejection of Kesha

Picture this: You’re at a fancy red carpet event in 2017, and you spot someone you admire.

Singer Kesha went in for a hug with comedian Jerry Seinfeld, but he declined not once, not twice, but THREE times in a row!

Jerry straight-up told her he didn’t know who she was.

Ouch, that’s gotta sting worse than stepping on a LEGO brick barefoot.

The whole thing was caught on camera, making it an internet sensation overnight and proving that not all celebrity meetings end in friendship bracelets.

2. Gigi Hadid’s Formal Handshake With Harry Styles

Ever been so nervous meeting someone that you forget how to act like a normal human?

At the 2015 American Music Awards, supermodel Gigi Hadid was introduced to One Direction and things got weird fast.

She formally shook Harry Styles’ hand like they were at a business meeting, then hugged the other band members.

Talk about mixed signals!

Harry’s confused face said it all, and fans couldn’t stop talking about the awkward greeting that made everyone watching feel secondhand embarrassment through their TV screens.

3. Amy Schumer’s Airplane Pitch to Goldie Hawn

Imagine pitching a movie idea to someone who has zero clue who you are.

Before they starred together in the comedy film Snatched, Amy Schumer approached Goldie Hawn on an airplane to suggest they make a movie together.

Goldie, completely unaware of Amy’s comedy stardom, responded with a super casual “Okay, honey” and probably wondered who this random passenger was.

Fortunately, the awkwardness paid off because they eventually made the movie!

Sometimes the cringiest moments lead to the coolest collaborations, just saying.

4. Steven Tyler’s Unwanted Photo Assumption

What happens when you’re just trying to grab groceries and someone gets the wrong idea?

A shopper at a store politely said “Excuse me” while reaching past Aerosmith’s Steven Tyler for an item.

Tyler immediately assumed they wanted a photo and announced, “I’m sorry, I don’t want to take any photos.”

Yikes, awkward much?

The shopper probably just wanted to grab their cereal and bounce, not deal with a rockstar’s defensive response that made a simple grocery run feel like a scene from a sitcom nobody asked for.

5. Daniel Radcliffe’s Listerine Breath Moment

How would you react if Harry Potter breathed in your face on purpose?

A fan met Daniel Radcliffe and complimented how good he smelled, which is already borderline weird if we’re being honest.

Instead of a simple thank you, Radcliffe humorously claimed it was just Listerine mouthwash and then actually breathed directly in the fan’s face to prove it!

While hilarious in retrospect, can you imagine being that fan in the moment?

That’s definitely one story they’ll be telling at parties for the rest of their lives, magical or not.

6. Terry Crews Gets Called That Bald Guy

Recognition is great, but sometimes it comes with zero tact attached.

While chilling at a fast-food restaurant, actor Terry Crews was spotted by a fan who loudly exclaimed, “Oh my God, it’s that bald guy!”

Not his name, not his character, just that bald guy.

Terry, being the legend he is, responded with perfect comedic timing: “Because I am that bald guy.”

The exchange was awkward yet hilarious, proving that even superstar athletes-turned-actors deal with people who can’t quite remember their actual names but definitely remember their hairline situation.

7. Samuel L. Jackson’s Surprise Swear-Free Chat

Sometimes celebrities are so famous for one thing that people expect it constantly.

A woman chatted with Samuel L.

Jackson for over an hour while shopping, completely unaware she was talking to a Hollywood legend.

When she finally realized his identity, her first reaction was shock that he hadn’t sworn during their entire conversation!

If you know anything about Samuel L.

Jackson’s movies, you know profanity is kind of his trademark.

The poor woman probably felt mortified realizing she’d been casually chatting with one of cinema’s biggest stars like he was just another random shopper.

8. Drew Barrymore’s Emergency Hug Request

What do you do when a crying celebrity asks you for comfort?

A room service waiter delivered food to Drew Barrymore’s hotel room after she’d missed her flight and was visibly upset about it.

Instead of just taking the food, Drew asked the waiter for a hug, and he awkwardly obliged.

While sweet and touching, imagine being that waiter trying to maintain professionalism while hugging a tearful Hollywood star!

It’s definitely not in the standard room service training manual, but it shows that celebrities are human too and sometimes just need a kind stranger’s embrace when life goes wrong.

9. Shaquille O’Neal’s Underage Bar Comeback

Size doesn’t always equal age, as one bar patron learned the hard way.

Someone at a bar asked basketball legend Shaquille O’Neal about his age, not realizing he was actually underage at the time despite his massive seven-foot frame.

Shaq hit back with the perfect response: “I can buy the bar and you can’t.”

Mic drop moment!

Nothing says awkward like questioning someone’s age only to get roasted about their bank account, especially when that someone is a future NBA superstar who could literally purchase the entire establishment without breaking a sweat or his wallet.