Perez Hilton plays down Miley Cyrus underwear photo row

Miley Cyrus has been nominated for four US Teenage Choice awards

Celebrity blogger Perez Hilton is playing down a row in America after he posted a photo of teenage singer Miley Cyrus seemingly not wearing underwear.

It's after the singer was snapped getting out of a car, which Hilton then put on his Twitter feed.

The blogger, real name Mario Armando Lavandeira, Jr., has been criticised in the US because Miley Cyrus is 17 and still considered a child.

Perez Hilton has now removed the photo and posted a statement on his website.

Wearing no trousers and a fake fur coat, he said in his video message that Miley Cyrus was clearly wearing underwear: "Do you think Miley is that stupid to be out in public without panties?

"Do you think I am stupid enough to post a photo of Miley if she is not wearing any underwear down there?

"Sure I like to be controversial, but I don't want to go to jail."

Perez Hilton said he posted the photo to highlight the "very unladylike fashion" in which Miley Cyrus was getting out of a car.

The paparazzi shot showed the Hannah Montana star getting out wearing a short, white dress.

Part of the picture was pixelated and carried a "warning" notice in Perez Hilton's Twitter posting, which has around two million followers.

There's been no comment on the story from Miley Cyrus yet.