While I'd agree with you 'in the wild' on a random person, if you watch Neil for a length of time on stage,.... he has an energy about him. It almost exudes as a hyperactive type of quality. Not many people are excited about space "stuff" - so I can see him just becoming overly excited when people ARE interested.
I've watched NDT quite a bit (being an amateur astronomer myself), but that statement is still creepy. I don't think that being 'energetic' automatically excempts any individual from criticism for their actions and words.
It's a pretty peculiar thing to say. Maybe even a bad attempt at flirting. But it seems like whether it's creepy depends on how it's delivered and by whom.
Sure I suppose I'll grant that creepiness is subjective and others will find this creepy even if I don't.
But what's more critical IMO is what if anything we should do about it. Should NDT lose job opportunities? Should women fear working with him? Not over 'creepiness' IMO. That said, losing job opportunities and women avoiding him is a natural consequence if the frequency/severity of the bad behavior continues.
The power of #metoo is that through unity, past victims can prevent future ones. If NDT truly victimizes women, this disclosure will help prevent more.
That rather depends on if that was intended to complete to "If I hug you I might just want more [hugs]." vs "If I hug you I might just want more [intimate things]."
Charitable reading: "a funny throw away comment"