Paolo Nutini hits out at Miley Cyrus' sexualised performances: 'Is that all right? Is that cool?'

The singer also said One Direction are given too hard a time

Paolo Nutini performs live at Radio 1's Big Weekend at Glasgow Green on 25 May, 2014, in Glasgow, Scotland (Getty Images)

Paolo Nutini has offered up his views on global pop stars du jour Miley Cyrus and One Direction – but his assessments certainly aren’t equal.

The “New Shoes” singer criticised Cyrus’ raunchy stage antics before offering his support to the boy band, following criticism after members Zayn Malik and Louis Tomlinson were filmed apparently smoking a joint.

Speaking to Q magazine, Nutini said: “I saw a photo of Miley Cyrus with her leotard pulled up between the lips of her vagina. Is that all right? Is that f***ing cool?

"And One Direction can’t have a joint? They’re the bad role models? Come on!”

The singer-songwriter also spoke candidly about his own drug use, saying he has smoked weed "every day since I was about 16".

He added: "Can the world please get to grips with marijuana? How long can this go on? Don’t get me wrong – you give it to the wrong person, marijuana can spawn all kinds of things – but no more so than alcohol."

“Wrecking Ball” singer Cyrus has become renowned for her controversial stage performances. She kicked off her Bangerz tour earlier this year in true Miley style, appearing to simulate fake oral sex on a Bill Clinton impersonator and twerking in a cannabis-patterned leotard.

But she might have something to say in response to Nutini, having previously described her tour as “art”, which would give teenagers the chance to see things they may have been sheltered from in their small American towns.

Nutini himself has just announced a new UK arena tour, which is set to be his biggest one to date.

The singer will kick off the six-date extravaganza in Newcastle on 24 October and wrap things up in Manchester on 6 November. In between Nutini will play in major cities Sheffield, Glasgow and Birmingham, as well as at London’s O2 Arena.

Tickets go on sale at 9am on Friday 4 July.

The full interview with Paolo Nutini can be read in the August issue of Q.