United Kingdom, Nov. 19 -- Austin Butler is just "friends" with Emily Ratajkowski.

The Elvis star, 34, was recently pictured having dinner with the model, also 34, in New York City but the actor has now shot down rumours of a budding romance between the pair.

When asked about the dating rumours, he told Vanity Fair magazine: "The true answer is that I have a lot of friends, and we're friends and we had dinner, and that we're friends."

He went on to add that he's never felt comfortable with scrutiny of his private life but he's now trying not to worry so much about what other people think.

He said: "I just wanted to hide ... " before adding: "I'm going to live a constricted small life because I'm afraid of what other people are going t...