Grammy award-winner Adele has launched legal action against a French magazine over false claims of a sex tape, featuring the star. She insists the allegation is "untrue and grossly defamatory."

The Rolling In The Deep singer took the action soon after editors at Public magazine published photographs they claimed were taken from footage of Adele, reports contactmusic.com.

Adele says the images are fake and she has vowed to take legal action against the publication, branding the report a disgusting lie.

"We are informed that the French magazine Public has today published images which it claims show our client in a sex tape. Our client has not appeared in a sex tape as it (is) claimed in the article. Our client does not appear in the photographs. Such claims are untrue and grossly defamatory. Our client is taking legal action in relation to this matter," read an official statement on her behalf.