The woman in the viral video with Ja'Marr Chase says their awkward hug is being blown way outta proportion ... claiming she and the NFL star are just "old friends."
The lady at the center of the interaction addressed the noise on Monday ... shortly after TMZ Sports published a video of her and the Cincinnati Bengals receiver's cringeworthy moment in front of photographers in New York City.
In case you didn't see it, Chase -- who signed a $161 million deal in March -- was walking out of Zero Bond when the woman tried to hug him, but he gave her the cold shoulder.