Courtney Love is fuming at claims she criticised Amy Winehouse's drug use, insists she is supportive of the star.

Courtney Love is fuming at claims she criticised Amy Winehouse's drug use, insists she is supportive of the star.

British newspaper The Sun claimed the singer had hit out at Winehouse, and quoted her saying: "I have never seen anyone take as much coke as Amy. Even I was not that bad."

But in an e-mail to gossip blogger Perez Hilton, Love claims the quote was completely fabricated. She suspects Winehouse's PR bosses of making it up to create publicity.

She writes: "Never have I said shit about Amy! Why would I? I'm suspicious about where this quote came from. It's too ill-timed - who is her PR?

"My sex, drugs and rock 'n roll philosophy is, unless you're hurting me or people I love then live and let live - just use a rubber. That's it.

"Just 'cos I can't do drugs and haven't for three years now doesn't mean I judge anyone who does. I don't, especially someone I respect and have only positive thoughts for. My apologies to Winehouse for this nonsense.

"Why the fuck would I start being the school principal?"

Love advises Winehouse: "I choose to say no to drugs after many, many years of trying to beat it.

"I finally did, but it takes a lot of effort and frankly a big rehab stay, 90 days or more in my honest opinion." - Wenn