An Australian interview in which a reporter attempted to get Beyoncé Knowles to throw shade at fellow pop star and friend Britney Spears has resurfaced.

The clip shows Australian 60 Minutes reporter Liam Bartlett chatting to Beyoncé, 42, about her career back in 2007.

When Beyoncé said she had been performing since she was a child, Bartlett took the opportunity to compare her career to Britney. At the time, The Gimme More hitmaker had experienced a very public breakdown and shaved her head.

‘You could say the same thing about Britney Spears, there’s only three months age difference between you two. But look at the difference; a complete disaster,’ Bartlett told the former Destiny’s Child star.

However, Beyoncé chose not to agree with him and eloquently answered the question.

An Australian interview in which a reporter attempted to get Beyoncé Knowles to throw shade at fellow pop star and friend Britney Spears has resurfaced

‘People handle different things differently. Thank God I’ve been surrounded by honesty and chosen to be around people I trust. It’s really difficult when you are a celebrity,’ she responded.

Many of Beyoncé’s fans quickly took to social media to praise her graceful response and call out the ‘shady’ interviewer.

‘The person that interviewed her was trying to be shady but Beyoncé handled it with class and grace. Never said anything negative,’ one person wrote.

When Beyoncé said she had been performing since she was a child, Bartlett took the opportunity to compare her career to Britney

At the time, the Gimme More hitmaker had experienced a very public breakdown and shaved her head

‘Beyoncé shows she has more compassion than that interviewer. So much compassion for Brit without trashing her,’ a second person added.

‘What a kind way to answer that question. That’s why she’s the queen,’ a third person chipped in and another added: ‘She answered that beautifully.’

Beyoncé and Britney have been friends for 20 years after appearing together in a Pepsi ad together in 2004.

It comes after reports that a host of global superstars are set to tour Australia in the near future, including Beyoncé, Madonna and Kylie Minogue.

Minogue, 55, AC/DC and Pearl Jam are scheduled to hold concerts in Australia later this year, while a host of other big artists are also rumoured to be planning an Aussie tour.

This includes The Rolling Stones, Bruce Springsteen, Beyoncé, Madonna and Green Day, all of whom promoters are reportedly working hard to book for Down Under.

Many of these bands are currently performing world tours and it is simply a matter of working out the logistics to bring them to Australia.

Beyoncé and Britney have been friends for 20 years after appearing together in a Pepsi ad together in 2004. Pictured: Pink, Britney and Beyoncé