Bruno Mars has slammed those who criticised his Super Bowl half-time show performance, branding the backlash "the most disgusting thing I think I've heard".

The Gorilla singer performed with Red Hot Chili Peppers at the sporting event earlier this month, with the rockers also targeted for 'playing unplugged'.

During an appearance on The Ellen DeGeneres Show,Mars reacted to a New York Times article which, which according to Ellen, said they "didn't think he was a star".

DeGeneres continued: "They said he wasn't a star because he wasn't in the tabloids and he doesn't have a fragrance... He's not ready and it's too big for him and he couldn't do it and he pulled it off I think beyond what anybody..."

Mars then hit back: "I did hear that and I think that was by far the most disgusting thing I think I've heard.

"Not because it was taking a shot at me, but I was thinking about aspiring young musicians who want to do this and even hearing the thought you need a fragrance or something like that is just is, you know what I would like to make a little speech and talk to them about this. Can I? Can I do that?"

He went on to make a rather inspirational speech, stating: "Listen. Any young, aspiring musicians out there, if music is what you want to do, if music is what you love and your passion.

"It doesn't take a fragrance, it's not about the tabloids, it's about you putting in the work, practicing every day, practicing your vocals, practicing your instrument, practicing songwriting.

"Hopefully one day you write the song the whole world wants to get down to and I promise you, I promise you one day you're going to have your moment to shine and you're going to have a lot of people saying that you can't do it and you're not good enough.

"But I promise you, if you go out there and sing and you put your heart and soul into it and you follow your dream, one day you're going to be sitting next to Ellen DeGeneres, talking about how you broke records and rocked the Super Bowl. Stand up America!"