In 1989, an American tabloid claimed that Manilow was engaged to porn star Robin Byrd. On a June 22, 1989, appearance on "The Tonight Show", Johnny Carson asked Manilow about the headline story. Manilow replied that he was just friends with Byrd, an innocent picture had been taken, and that there was no truth to the supposed engagement. After he met Byrd, his band gave him a videotape of "Debbie Does Dallas" as a present for his birthday. Manilow told Carson that he could not watch his friend doing what she does in that movie.