Shania Twain forced to apologise for saying she'd have voted for Trump

Shania Twain has apologised to anyone she "offended" by admitting she would have voted for Donald Trump.

The Canadian singer was not eligible to vote in the US presidential election, but said in an interview with the Guardian that she would have chosen the reality TV star and businessman because he "seemed honest".

There was a backlash on social media over her remarks and she attempted to diffuse the criticism by tweeting an apology on Sunday.

"I would like to apologise to anybody I have offended in a recent interview with The Guardian relating to the American President," Twain, 52, said. "As a Canadian, I regret answering this unexpected question without giving my response more context."

"I am passionately against discrimination of any kind and hope it's clear from the choices I have made, and the people I stand with, that I do not hold any common moral beliefs with the current President.

"My answer was awkward, but certainly should not be taken as representative of my values nor does it mean I endorse him."

Twain, known for singing That Don't Impress Me Much, said she was caught "off guard" by the question about Mr Trump.

In an article published on Sunday, she said: "I would have voted for him because, even though he was offensive, he seemed honest. Do you want straight or polite? Not that you shouldn't be able to have both.

"If I were voting, I just don't want bullshit. I would have voted for a feeling that it was transparent. And politics has a reputation of not being that, right?"

Fans criticised her for apparently backing Trump, with many pointing to his alleged "bigotry" including his treatment of transgender troops and his boasts of being able to grab women "by the p---y".