Actor Shemar Moore was once snubbed by Alicia Keys when he asked her out on a date.

The Brothers star recalled his embarrassing encounter with the R&B beauty as he introduced her at the People's Choice Awards in Los Angeles on Wednesday night (09Jan13), revealing he took his chance after an interview with the Girl on Fire hitmaker over a decade ago when she was starting out.

Moore said, "I was hosting Soul Train... I asked her out on a date and she looked dead me in the eye and she said this: 'Look here, son, I respect your flirt game but my man situation is handled.'

"What are you supposed to say to that, because I had nothing at all. But I'm not mad, I will always be a fan."

The actor added, "The first time I ever saw her perform I was absolutely blown away. She had such soul, such passion, such undeniable strength... so there's no surprise that she's become one of the biggest music stars on the planet."

Keys hit the stage at the ceremony to perform Girl on Fire and Party People, her latest song which was produced by her husband Swizz Beatz, who watched from the audience with the couple's child Egypt in his arms.