"It’s amazing what people think," Criss, who has also been linked to Cameron Diaz, told People.com.

"We’re not together. Her manager is my manager, and I’m helping with one of her shows. I’m helping with her appearance on MTV."

Criss was apparently referring to Brit’s rumoured appearance at the upcoming MTV Video Music Awards, although an MTV spokesperson is still refusing to confirm or deny whether the star is going to appear.

He added: "We were talking about how she wants to do something more with the awards show, and about me helping out and hoping to work with her on doing something to make her MTV appearance more innovative."

Rumours started flying after the 39-year-old was reportedly seen with Brit in a restaurant, but Criss said: "I’m here working on some stuff, and we went to that restaurant with 10 people. It’s amazing how you can’t do anything now without people making up stuff."

The Allure of Britney - Aug 16 2007
Britney Spears may not have given a good impression at a recent magazine shoot, but she was noticeably different in a shoot for another US magazine.

The shoot for the September issue for Allure was the singer’s first since she filed for divorce from K-Fed last November, and according to the magazine’s editor in chief, Linda Wells, Britney was "agreeable and cooperative" to work with.

"The pop star drove to the studio with her assistant and cousin, Alli Sims, in her black Mercedes. She arrived on time," she said.

Linda added: "The singer didn’t require star treatment. Her only requests were camomile tea and music. She plugged her iPod - which played Kelis and Ciara - into the studio’s speakers.

However, it wasn’t all straight forward. Linda also admitted that Britney, who shaved her hair off in February, displayed some odd behaviour.

"She was entirely un-self conscious. She took off her wig and then stripped down to the waist, for no apparent reason, before sitting for hair and makeup."

Britney accused of threatening snappers - Aug 1 2007
Two paparazzi photographers have accused Britney Spears of throwing a baby bottle and threatening them after they took pictures of her leaving a spa in the US.

The troubled pop star yelled "I am going to kill you! I am going to f***ing kill you!" at Andrew Deetz, a photographer who was allegedly beaten by her bodyguard, according to a statement released by the photographers’ lawyers.

The snappers, Deetz, 24, and Kyle Henderson, 23, said they were preparing to sue.

They were taking pictures of Britney as she and her children left the spa at the Wynn Las Vegas casino-hotel.

One of her bodyguards, Cesar Julio Camera, 37, allegedly pushed Henderson against the wall until Wynn security intervened and asked Henderson to leave, the statement said.

Camera then attacked Deetz from behind, threw him on the ground and punched and kicked him until security pulled him away, it claimed.

Afterwards, Britney ran towards Henderson but was stopped by security, and then threw a baby bottle at him, the statement continued.

Then, in front of several other hotel guests and bystanders, the statement alleges that the singer threatened to kill Deetz and said he should get a restraining order against her because she was going to kill him or hire someone that would.

Britney’s lawyer Gary Stiffelman declined to comment on the allegations.

Wynn Las Vegas released a statement confirming the newly-divorced Toxic singer stayed at the hotel, but also declined to discuss the matter.

Las Vegas police issued a summons for a charge of battery to Camera, the only person cited in the incident.