AceShowbiz -

Neil Patrick Harris slams Daily Mail's report of him using N-word during his performance in the opening number of Tony Awards on June 9. The Barney Stinson of "How I Met Your Mother" allegedly uttered the harsh word right in Mike Tyson's face when the two sang and danced together on stage.

"Really, Daily Mail?!? The N-word? That's your story?!? I would NEVER be so disrespectful and frankly, neither should you," wrote Harris on Twitter Monday, June 10. On the same day, TMZ claimed that the returning Tony host indeed dropped the word, "We've played it back dozens of times and can't come up with another explanation [than Harris using the N-word]."

Harris' rep then reacts fast by releasing a statement in response to the serious accusation. "Neil unequivocally did not use derogatory language in the opening number of the Tony Awards, and for the Daily Mail or any other outlet to indicate otherwise is completely irresponsible and utterly disrespectful," his rep says as quoted by PerezHilton.com.

"We are all so disheartened by the careless reporting, especially following such an incredible show and celebration for the hard-working, dedicated people of Broadway."

On his fourth-time hosting stint for the 67th Tony Awards, Harris kicked off the event with a special musical performance. The 39-year-old actor even took that opportunity to take a jab at Shia LaBeouf, who exited Broadway's "Orphans" after feuding with co-star Alec Baldwin, as well as Hollywood film "Les Miserables", which used "extreme close-ups to prove" that their cast members could actually sing.