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Today’s MTV News morning meeting (at 9:30am — way too early!) was set adrift by a free-for-all discussion of Mileygate. And after 20 minutes and no conclusions about what new angle could possibly be taken on this obsessively reported story — is she the new Britney Spears? the new Shirley Temple? an underage victim or a savvy young woman? — intern Jackie chimed in with some common-sense thoughts. So we’re turning the Newsroom floor over to Jackie. Her thoughts on Miley, and what it’s really like to be fifteen, after the jump.
As a huge Miley Cyrus fan (so what if I’m 21 years old??) and an intern here at MTV News, I’ve heard and seen a lot lately when it comes to my favorite Disney star. Her supposedly “racy” pictures: in the June issue of Vanity Fair, the lime green bra incident of 2008, and of course the original Hello Kitty bedroom pics, have been getting a ton of attention, most of it incredibly negative.
Now I get that she’s 15 years old, but I do not in any way see what all the talk is about. At her age, I was in high school, had a huge crush on an older boy, and didn’t want to be seen as the little virginal, no-curves freshman. I wanted to be viewed as sexy and attractive, and at times I acted just like the starlet in question. No one ever made me apologize, and never was I made to feel ashamed of myself for coming of age. But then again, I was a 15-year-old no-name in Freehold, NJ, and Miley is a gigantic celebrity who’s on the cover of magazines, has a hit TV show, a hit single, a sold-out tour, and she’s been a presenter on that little awards show called “the Oscars.”
Still, why parents are getting all up in arms about this is beyond me. Girls at Miley’s age are coming into themselves, discovering that they have a body, and want to be viewed as more than just little girls. What’s the problem if a teenager who is almost old enough to get her learner’s permit wants to be seen as a little more mature? Parents of younger fans — and the big boys in suits — tend to put girls like Miley in a box, packaged with a pretty pink bow and lots of sunshine. Realistically, that’s not what 15-year-old girls are made of. They, like boys, like to look nice, wear makeup, fool around with friends, and even take a silly picture here and there. Parents need to wake up: their daughters are seeing more in the locker room than what these Miley photos reveal.
In my opinion, the problem is not with Miley Cyrus, or with her parents, it’s with all the people who are trying to make more of it than it is. If a mother of an 11-year-old doesn’t like what Miley’s portraying, maybe that mother needs to focus more on parenting her own children and less on parenting Miley. If anything, this is a way for mothers to have a jumping-off point to talk to their daughters about becoming a woman and growing up.
The issue is that you can be sexy without being sexual, and you can be sexual without being a slut. Miley should in no way feel embarrassed for beautiful photographs — and certainly not for being a teenage girl having fun. Maybe parents and a lot of the media need to take a tip from No Doubt and take the proverbial pink ribbon off their eyes, realize what a 15-year-old girl is, and let this one live her life — and look great doing it, I might add!
You can also check out Buzzworthy’s take on Mileygate here.
Filed Under: Television, music
You’re not making art, holy-rollers. How dare you even try to pretend.
Basically, if any teenager who was babysitting or giving swim lessons or being a camp counselor acted in front of the kids the way they act among other teenagers, they'd be promptly fired. Cyrus, as the personification of the "Hannah Montana" brand, is *always* in the position of being that camp counselor. Sucks to be her, but at least she's making good money off of it.
As far as people saying how could she do this, how are they going to explain this to their kids. The only thing hard to explain is the fact that people are getting upset over something as stupid as this when they need to be worrying about $4 gas prices, horrible health care costs, thousands being killed in Iraq and around the world every day, and the fact that groceries are getting so expensive that people are going to have to beg for food or let their family go hungry.
Our senior pictures were taken with a feather shawl around our arms with bare shoulders and back. We had to take off our blouse and bra and wrap that thing around us and it didn't even cover our stomaches, then walk out into an open studio with everyone around. Our parents were not there with us and we were all 16, was that porn? Who was to blame for that, our parents, the school, or the photography studio that had done that same shot for every picture for 20 years? Oh No and it went in the Year Book AND the newspaper. Should we have called the police on the newspaper for distributing child pornography?
Now what I wouldn't want to do is let my 15 year old wear the things I see the 13 year olds wearing at the mall while they walk around flirting with everybody and twisting there behinds. I'd love to see the expression on the parents faces if they could sneak around and see how their precious 15 year old acted when they weren't around.
People saying she's a role model she shouldn't take pictures like this, The PARENTS SHOULD be the role model for their kids not a 15 year old girl. Try it and see how well YOU do. My support will always go to Billy Ray and the whole Cyrus family.
I am not worried about the 11-15 year-olds let their parents deal with how to discuss the "art" as they will regardless of Miley. They will deal with it becasue of Jr High and High School.
My kids and their friends are 4 and 5 and don't need to be exposed to this material; art or not. It not something little minds are equipped to or should have to process just yet. They are just enjoying her songs and yes, look at her as a role model. Which overall she has done pretty well at. I guess based on the latest would be thanks to Disney.
I can understand Disney's concern, but Miley is 15 and is not an adult. So shame on the people who are supposed to be "advising" her (parents or other).
Yes, we all did things that weren't smart as teenagers but Miley or really her peeps need to be thinking about who her audience is and who she is influencing. It is NOT just the tweens. GO DISNEY! for standing up and denouncing this behavior. They should have an idea where the ratings are coming from...
And for those that think it's perfectly acceptable to do whatever she feels like. That's what the sickos think too. Life's not fair, get over it. In three years she can pose for Playboy or whatever else she wants....until then she's underage, and should act it.
she 15teen i love her to death. please just leave her a lone
Media is to blame, and Disney silenced Miley and anyone connected with Hannah Montana/Miley. That is...whatever.
I am 16, i see other girls doing MUCH worse in photos, but she is HELD UP as this rolemodel and she IS NOT A NORMAL GIRL, she is a celebrity.
Miley, girl, s**t happens. Keep Your Head Up.
What does a 15 year old have to be sexy about, oh wait the free spirited miscreants who say it's normal to be a beautiful sexual being at 15 say it's okay and MTV says it okay. Nothing wrong there either I suppose.
Those that say nothing is wrong with sexually provocative photos are probably the same sickos that troll MySpace looking for little girls..
Responsibility? Nah it's okay to lust after 15 year olds call it art, blame it on Disney, or Annie Liebowitz or anybody else but the dad and this child who's trying to grow up to fast. Her and her dad saw the pics. Acting incredulous and shocked is just a bunch of hooey.
Of course the current copy of VF will probably be required reading. some here can probably fantasize about their 15 year old daughter laying in their lap wearing a bikini.
Some wonder why we are in such a state.
Miley is almost an adult! (but please do not chastise her decisions, because she's still just a kid finding her way and she did nothing wrong)
these photos are 'sexy' and 'sweet'! (and no one will ever interpret them in any other way, no one will ever confuse the intended purpose)
Parent your own kids not Miley? I think that's what these people are doing... by publicly speaking out and showing their kids that this is not ok.
Don't bullsh*t us, please... Disney and the Cyrus family have done a wonderful job cultivating an image and making a big dollar off it... now all of a sudden, parents are supposed to explain to their 4-11 year olds "well yeah, but Hannah Montana is growing up now, and like all kids growing up, she isn't the same Hannah Montana"... because a 7 year old will totally get that...
as one person commented "she is held up as a role model not a normal girl"... really? because it was forced on her right? her and her family, they never set out to make millions, sell product with her name and image, etc etc... the Charles Barkley argument is a tired one... you want life in the public eye? then learn to accept public criticism... people pay to watch you work, that makes you not normal... if you don't care, more power, but if you have built an image you want to protect, then smarten up and act accordingly...
oh and as a side note... wasn't Traci Lords just a normal 15 or 16 year old girl, exploring life as she grew up? I suppose she was just more advanced in her exploration...
My disgustment is more over her parents motives.They seem to be out there promoting and pushing Miley to milk every dime she can while she reigns on the top of the market. Smells more of parental greed than anything. THey seem way to wiling to "prostitute" the image of their daughter in the name of money, more fame and new markets.
I would much rather that they continue to guide her to be the role model they had the whole world believing she is even though she's now a mature 15. Hello to the next Spears family???
so heres a question for all of you......at the age of 15 were u not kissing the opposite sex? trying new and adventurous things? taking "myspace" photos of you and ur friends?
you've all got to leave her alone!!!
honestly she thought this was artistic and i think her photo is beautiful! let her live her life she has already apologised! you guys all need to have a look in your own backyard before you start judging someone else!
I was shocked when I knew her real name was Destiny Hope and they changed the name to Miley... what a bad choice. Destiny Hope is a beautiful and meaningful name. Many cultures believe, name is a prayer. Each time you hold a beautiful name, each time people call your name means people pray for you. When I read about she changed her name, I said, the bad luck will be following her....... and it's true. Started from that all her bad image picture pops up like crazy.
Britney Spears was not as bad as her when Britney at her age. Only these past 2 years Britney seems lost control but years ago, Britney was a great person and yet she still is a great person.
Miley is just another product of Disney for profit margin. Wait until she is not longer making money, everyone will leave her alone.
And me too, hate the Billy-Miley picture, it's like they has something going on behind and cant help but thinking bad about whole thing.
Society says they look artistic(naive), sexy(she is a MINOR), Hot(jail bait), nothing is wrong(delinquent role model), ,Why all the fuss(add to the Moral decline in todays teens).
Will you be so compassionate to a pedophile/sexoffender OFFENCES and say what is the big deal it STARTED with simple: artistic, sexy, Hot, nothing is wrong, Why all the fuss pictures of a MINOR. That started the crave in these criminals minds and subsequently lead to a VICTIM.
I doudt you would hold yourself accountable for this "not so big a deal" attitude should your childern be the Victims, instead you will blame the MEDIA ..ie.. VANITYFAIR
All CRIMES begin with an image(thought).
Now it’s front page news everywhere (surely there’s actual important news going on somewhere in the world?) Now, little girls, who never would have known about this, are going to be bombarded with the images over and over, along with an imposed context that it’s bad, naughty, evil.
No one’s wrong here - except the media making this non-issue into a huge story, and the moral scolds who are fine with Britney flashing her coochie everywhere but have panic attacks over the sight of a bare back.
You’d think Baby Boomer parents would be more laid back, after everything they did as teenagers.