Piers Morgan kisses a male cowboy on US television

Piers Morgan rubbished accusations that he is gay - by kissing a male cowboy on US television.

The former newspaper editor planted a smacker on Trace Adkins' cheek after bitter rival Omarosa claimed he was "in the closet".

"You're a beautiful cowboy," Morgan told the country music star, who merely looked shocked and held his head on his hands.

Morgan's jaw-dropping antics came on the US version of the Celebrity Apprentice, after Omarosa told boss Donald Trump she thought the ex-hack was homosexual.

"I know some things about him," she said. "I think he's in the closet."

Morgan, whose team beat the reality TV star's in this week's task, remained expressionless as he watched her remarks on a screen in another room.

"He's asked them to take their shirts off in every single one [task]," Omarosa added. "He asked Lennox to be naked and hunked up with a Kodak picture."

Trump stood up for Morgan and offered him the chance to come back into the boardroom and defend himself.

"I don't think you know him very well and you called him a homosexual," he told the former Apprentice contestant. "There are gay people around, and that's great, and there are non-gays - but you called him a homosexual and he says he's not a homosexual."

Morgan held his hand up as he marched back in and said: "I just want to do one thing Mr. Trump."

Leaning over and kissing Adkins on the cheek he added: "I'd just like to say Trace you're a beautiful cowboy."

The America's Got Talent judge strutted back out and laughed raucously, before hi-fiving boxer Lennox Lewis. "Need I say more?" Omarosa screamed.

"I think he was joking," Trump replied, before firing the reality star from the show.