“Don’t come to me with that mess.”

Billy Porter has denied that he has an issue with RuPaul.

At the 2019 Primetime Emmy Awards (22 September), the Pose star was captured on camera giving the Drag Race host a “side-eye” as she accepted the award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.

His reaction prompted users on social media to assume the pair have “beef”.

However, Porter shot down rumours of a potential feud backstage when he told reporters: “There’s never a side-eye coming from me, let me make that clear right now in this room to everybody. Right now. There’s never a side-eye coming from me.

“There’s never anything negative coming from me. You’re never gonna get it from me. Okay? It’s all love. It’s all light. It’s all positivity. Don’t come to me with that mess. Don’t. It’s never that. So, I don’t know!”

Porter also praised RuPaul for “paving” the way for him in the industry, calling him a friend. “I am so proud of him. I stand on his shoulders. I stand on his shoulders. He is doing it,” he continued. “So there’s never a side-eye.”

The American actor made history at last night’s ceremony by becoming the first openly gay black man to win the award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. He won for his portrayal of Pray Tell in Ryan Murphy’s acclaimed drama, Pose.

Phoebe Waller-Bridge’s BBC drama Fleabag was the big winner of the night, taking home awards for Outstanding Comedy Series, Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series, Outstanding Directing and Outstanding Writing in a Comedy Series.

Drag Race also won its second consecutive award for Outstanding Reality Competition Program.

Related: Billy Porter reveals why that Pose sex scene was so hard to watch back.

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