Nick Lachey's hot tub

Nick Lachey has dismissed the scandal surrounding photographs of his hot-tub frolics with girlfriend Vanessa Minnillo. Vee-Jay Vanessa Minnnilio and US singer Nick Lachey arrive EPA/JASON SZENES

Vee-Jay Vanessa Minnnilio and US singer Nick Lachey arrive EPA/JASON SZENESThe former 'Newlyweds' star says he would understand the outrage if he was caught with a prostitute, but as he was with his own girlfriend he can't understand the fuss.Lachey told OK! magazine: "Where's the scandal?"I was in Mexico with my girlfriend celebrating our first anniversary together on a private vacation. It's not like I was caught with a Mexican hooker. We've all gone out and had a few too many and done something stupid. We've all made mistakes."Despite laughing off the incident, the singer has still taken legal steps to prevent the explicit photographs from being released. Lachey and Minnillo have hired top lawyer Marty Singer to prevent images of them naked in a Mexican hot tub from being seen.Steamy pictures of the couple in a Jacuzzi at a private Mexican resort were published in Life and Style Weekly magazine last week. However, other unseen photographs reportedly show Lachey and Minnillo making love - and these are the photographs the couple are determined to keep under wraps.A source said: "The pictures are Paris Hilton sex tape level."Singer has warned media outlets will face a lawsuit if they publish the images.He said: "The photographer was outrageous and malicious. The photos that were taken of our clients by a Mexican photographer violated Mexican law and were a clear invasion of privacy, and we have threatened to take legal action against third parties who publish the photos."(C) BANG Media International