Miley Cyrus' father has no problem with her giving a lap dance to a movie director as it's "what people her age do".

The singer-and-actress has caused outrage after a video of her performing a raunchy routine for director Adam Shankman, 44, surfaced earlier this week.

Miley was 16 at the time the footage was taken, with the incident occurring at the wrap party for her movie The Last Song, which Adam produced.

Her father Billy Ray Cyrus has defended her behaviour, insisting she is just being a normal teenager. "It's what people her age do," he told website TMZ. "She was just having fun."

Miley, 17, has not commented on the video.

The star has caused raised eyebrows with her explicit behaviour in the past. The promo for her new song Can't Be Tamed sees her writhing around in a cage dressed in a series of skimpy outfits, while she caused uproar at the Teen Choice Awards last year by pole dancing.

Miley has insisted both Billy and her mother Tish are happy with her new music video, explaining they were impressed with the story she came up with.

Billy also defended the teen after the pole dancing incident. "I just think that Miley loves entertaining people," he said. "I give my kids a lot of freedom to make the art they wanna make, and make it in their own voice. I think it's important."

- Bang! Showbiz