Bruno Mars respects Kanye West for "telling it like it is."

International superstar West hit headlines recently when he publicly dissed Justin Timberlake and Jay-Z during an onstage performance.

During an instrumental, West took the opportunity to rant about his disapproval of his friend Jay-Z’s collaboration on Timberlake’s comeback single, shouting to the crowds: “I got love for Hov, but I ain’t f**king with that ‘Suit & Tie’.”

West  - who is famed for being outspoken - also ranted about Taylor Swift during the gig in London, after interrupting the country star's acceptance speech during the 2009 MTV VMAs.

However, Mars doesn't think West's frank nature is a bad thing.

Speaking to Capital FM, Mars explained: "I don't think you can be mad at a guy that speaks his opinion – whether you disagree with it or not.It's hard being in the spotlight, you're doing interviews and shows, and you want to just be politically correct so people like you and buy your albums. It takes a lot for someone to be honest in these kind of situations.

He continued: "That is what Kanye West is. He is going to speak his mind, you might not agree with everything that he says, but you know what the guy's telling it like it is in his mind. You can't be mad at that."