Miley Cyrus... why?

[Papa Deuce]

http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/28/business/media/28hannah.html?ref=media

short excerpt:

LOS ANGELES — Fifteen years old, topless and wrapped in what appears to be a satin bedsheet in the June issue of Vanity Fair. Did Miley Cyrus, with the help of a controversy-courting magazine, just deliver a blow to the Walt Disney Company’s billion-dollar “Hannah Montana” franchise?

The cover of the June issue of Vanity Fair and the photograph of Miley Cyrus, inset.
Some parents reacted with outrage over the weekend when the television program “Entertainment Tonight” began showing commercials promoting a scoop: Ms. Cyrus, the star of the wholesome Disney Channel blockbuster “Hannah Montana,” had posed topless, albeit with her chest covered, for the Vanity Fair photographer, Annie Leibovitz.

Screen grabs of the photo quickly popped up online, sparking a blogosphere debate. “Bonfire anyone?” wrote Lin Burress on her marriage and parenting blog, Telling It Like It Is, referring to the mountain of Hannah Montana retail items — makeup, shoes, clothes — in the marketplace. “Parents should be extremely concerned,” Ms. Burress said in an interview. “Very young girls look up to Miley Cyrus as a role model.”

 

[HollyJoy]

While the majority of Miley's fans will never see that magazine, it's still sad that she decided to take that approach... Couldn't she have waited a few years!? You'd think she'd want to keep riding the wave of Disney for as long as she could. Hopefully this isn't a sign of things to come

 

[chicagodisneyfan]

I thought the pictures were in good taste. The ones of her and here father were touching.

 

[wardfamily1]

Why in the heck would she pose like that? Better yet, why in the heck would her parents let her? That's just sad, the girl is only 15 years old!

 

[Papa Deuce]

Why in the heck would she pose like that? Better yet, why in the heck would her parents let her? That's just sad, the girl is only 15 years old!

..... and potentially kill the golden goose....

 

[Goobergal99]

As the mom of Hannah Montana's biggest fan (and believe me I had the credit card bills and pictures to prove it) I have to say that although I think they are incredibly mature photos for a 15 yearold girl.... I also think that a parent who encourages their child to "admire" an actor/actress in anyway is worrisome.

They are entertainers, not nobel peace winners.... I really don't think children should be raised to have idols in their lives... How about being a good role model for your child...

I always tell my DD that Miley is an actress (and a mediocre one at that) and the music and show is for purposes of enjoyment, if my 9 y/old can understand that, anyone can... just my 2 cents

 

[Charade]

I thought the pictures were in good taste. The ones of her and here father were touching.

Huh? How is the one (the only one I've seen) with her in just a sheet in "good taste" for a FIFTEEN year old?

 

[SueM in MN]

for the Vanity Fair photographer, Annie Leibovitz.

Knowing that Annie Leibovitz is a very well know photographer who took the Disney pictures of celebrities like Scarlett Johanson and Beyonce for the year of a million dreams, I would imagine that she knows how to get people to be comfortable doing/showing more than they planned to.
I wonder who was with Miley Cyrus as her guardian and how they got talked into those particular pictures.

 

[wardfamily1]

As the mom of Hannah Montana's biggest fan (and believe me I had the credit card bills and pictures to prove it) I have to say that although I think they are incredibly mature photos for a 15 yearold girl.... I also think that a parent who encourages their child to "admire" an actor/actress in anyway is worrisome.

They are entertainers, not nobel peace winners.... I really don't think children should be raised to have idols in their lives... How about being a good role model for your child...

I always tell my DD that Miley is an actress (and a mediocre one at that) and the music and show is for purposes of enjoyment, if my 9 y/old can understand that, anyone can... just my 2 cents

I totally agree with you. I'm thinking what effect is this whole "rush to grow up too fast" attitude that Miley and her mother/father must have by letting her pose like this. I enjoy watching Hannah Montana with my kids and Miley is a smart and talented girl. I don't want to see her grow up and have the same problems that Brittney or Lindsy have.

 

[autumnbaby9]

With all the outrage I have been hearing about that photo I was expecting a lot worse. You can't see anything except her back. It's not like she is flashing her ta ta's around.

 

[luvmy2sams]

I'm so glad that DD9 doesn't go nuts over these kids like so many others her age do. She watches Hannah Montana occasionally and listens to the music from time to time. Thankfully she's much more content bopping along to Bon Jovi than to the current flavor of the month. I wouldn't want to have to try to explain the need for this type of photo to her. I can't imagine the logic behind thinking this is an appropriate shot for a 15-year-old. Pretty ridiculous IMO.

 

[damo]

With all the outrage I have been hearing about that photo I was expecting a lot worse. You can't see anything except her back. It's not like she is flashing her ta ta's around.

But it is definitely a seductive photo.

 

[AuntieM03]

I read an apology from her that said that the picture was taken after her parents left the set. There were others that should have stopped it, but it seemed at they were a bit in awe of the photographer.

 

[PixieDust32]

Why in the heck would she pose like that? Better yet, why in the heck would her parents let her? That's just sad, the girl is only 15 years old!

I agree, she's only 15. What were her parents thinking? Is not like she needs the money or the publicity.

 

[moon]

But it is definitely a seductive photo.

It suggests a naked woman. The sheet barely covers her lower back,

I can't understand how anyone thinks this is OK for a 15 year old girl.


Shame on her parents.

 

[PixieDust32]

My dd loves her music and her show, but I don't see her as a "role model" for her. The role models are at home not on tv.

 

[PixieDust32]

It suggests a naked woman. The sheet barely covers her lower back,

I can't understand how anyone thinks this is OK for a 15 year old girl.


Shame on her parents.

Exactly! On her parents.

 

[Breezie]

Here's an apology from her on People.com

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20195785,00.html

The article is pretty short. But here is an even shorter version.

Miley says: "My goal in my music and my acting is always to make people happy. For Vanity Fair, I was so honored and thrilled to work with Annie [Leibovitz]. I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed."

Disney says: "Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines."

Annie says: "Miley's parents and/or minders were on the set all day. Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley."

 

[chisnpeke]

Well, Miley knew that any picture taken of her could be used in the magazine. So she can't say she didn't know it would be used. I really expected better from Miley than this.

ETA: What I also want to know is, why would Annie Leibovitz think it's OK to photograph a FIFTEEN year old girl like that???

 

[PixieDust32]

Why does it have to be half nude to be 'artistic'?