Mariah Carey launches sexy shirtless circus at docu-series press conference

Singer Mariah Carey has taken promotion to a new level after inviting shirtless men onstage as she discussed her new docu-series Mariah's World.

The Fantasy singer visited the Television Critics Association summer press tour in Beverly Hills on Wednesday (03Aug16) to talk about her forthcoming E! series, and she made an impressive entrance with a bevy of hunky topless men, who performed a routine around her as she arrived on a chaise lounge.

Addressing her highly-anticipated show while sipping champagne, Carey insisted Mariah's World is not a reality show.

"I don't consider it reality…," she noted. "I haven’t been on tour in Europe in about 10 years. So I thought, let’s just show the behind the scenes, what it really takes to do a tour… and mainly, watch how the music evolves, watch the process, and watch how the different personalities clash. I don’t even watch reality - I don’t even know what reality is, literally.”

Her statement may come as a surprise to fans who watched Mariah on television when she appeared as a judge on reality TV singing competition American Idol in 2013. The singer described her time on the program as "the most abusive experience". She publicly feuded with co-judge Nicki Minaj throughout the series.

But when it comes to her own show, Carey is working with producers to ensure the eight-part docu-series is as authentic as possible. She confirms her ex-husband Nick Cannon and their five-year-old twins will appear in Mariah's World, as well as her current fiance James Packer, but she is using discretion as to what will make the final cut before the episodes air at the close of this year (16).

"I think we’re still drawing lines," she explained. "I think in the beginning I was withholding the amount of access because I’m never sure who to trust. I just didn’t know how things were going to be perceived... We’re still in the process of filming and getting more real moments. But my goal is to make this a lasting piece of work for my fans."

"I don’t know that anybody really knows the real me because if somebody sees me on TV or a video, it’s not enough time to get to know somebody…," she added. "Hopefully they’ll see other sides of me that are entertaining."

A new trailer for Mariah's World is now available to view and the show will premiere on E! network on Sunday 4 December (16).