Billy Ray Cyrus is adamant his daughter Miley's headline-grabbing antics at the MTV Video Music Awards were harmless, insisting: "I would have done the same thing."

The former Hannah Montana star hit headlines around the world with her raunchy routine, in which she cavorted in skimpy, flesh-colored latex underwear, gyrated against pop star Robin Thicke's crotch, and groped him with a foam hand.

Her 'twerking' dance moves at the event on Sunday (25Aug13) prompted a furor among many critics, but Achy Breaky Heart singer Cyrus is convinced his daughter did no wrong - and even claims he would have put in a similar performance in his heyday.

In a post on Twitter.com, former child star Miley tells fans of her father's reaction to the scandal, writing, "'Mile, if twerkin woulda (sic) been invented... And I had a foam finger... I woulda (sic) done the same thang you did.' - DAD."