Miley Cyrus Is Not Your Mother

By PopEater Staff Posted Jan 7th 2010 07:51AM

Miley Cyrus has been dogged by controversy for years, whether over a saucy Teen Choice Awards pole dance or an Annie Leibovitz photo shoot showing the young star clad in just a sheet. While Cyrus once told fans she was deeply embarrassed by the photos, a new interview in Harper's Bazaar shows that the 17-year-old singer/actress has stopped apologizing. The 'Hannah Montana' star tells an overcritical audience: "Your kids are going to make mistakes whether I do or not."

Cyrus suggests, "People like controversy because that's what sells. My job is to be a role model, and that's what I want to do, but my job isn't to be a parent. My job isn't to tell your kids how to act or how not to act, because I'm still figuring that out for myself. So to take that away from me is a bit selfish."

In 2008, after experiencing the backlash that followed Cyrus' undressed Vanity Fair cover, she issued a statement reading, "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. I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about."

In regard to that Leibovitz shoot, Cyrus now tells the magazine, "Here, my parents are thinking they're seeing a beautiful photograph by a major photographer, and the people of America want to see something dirty in that? It doesn't make sense to us because [my family] doesn't look for negativity ... No one wants to look at something like that and see the positive because it doesn't sell a magazine."

Cyrus spent the summer in Georgia, filming the Nicholas Sparks adaptation 'The Last Song,' and she says she relished the time spent away from the prying eyes of paparazzi. "It's so much easier to know who you are when there aren't a thousand people telling you who they think you are," she says. "I felt like I was really figuring myself out. Usually I have someone whispering in my ear, but I was on my own."

As for media attention on a 'Just Breathe' tattoo Cyrus recently adopted, the singer says the ink is a tribute to her two grandfathers who died of lung cancer and a close friend who passed away in 2007. "It reminds me not to take things for granted. I mean, breathing-that was something none of them could do, the most basic thing," she explains. "And I put it near my heart, because that is where they will always be."

She says, "I could never get a meaningless tattoo, but I think that if you're doing something that's important, that's significant in your life, it takes some of the pain away."

Tags: Miley Cyrus, MileyCyrus

Comments

(56)

Saturday 02 October

By samantha

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i go with frank one that, haha

Thursday 07 January

By memej

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She has grown up to be one nasty,selfish person. I was a fan in her early years,but now I think fame has gotten to her and to her family. I understand she is a teenager,but lately the things she says and does proves she needs to GROW UP!! Her mother is suppose to show her the way and I think if she does not change her ways-she will lose her fans and be a typical hollywood wild child.

By Billy Goats

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She makes a great little whore. Long legs, pouty lips, tattoos...stripper poles. She is "role-modeling" your kids right to hell!!

Saturday 09 January

By Frank

Your just a stupid azz loser so shut the hell up!!!!

By pete zerrea

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she's yummy

By Leila

Whether Miley likes it or not, she's going to influence (some) young people. Yes, it's natural for her to make mistakes, but she has to know that while she's getting all that attention she loves, she's making an impression on others. Okay, she's young and has a lot to learn - I just hope that includes learning about humility.

By XxlANETExX

She is still a child herself. And shes learning. Shes suppose to make mistakes how else is she suppose to grow?
And adults are the ones who are trash talking a teenager.
How wrong is that? What kind of role model are you being to your kids if you have any? exactly! Be a real parent and be your childs role model dont let another child be it. And if you still think she isnt a good role model to your child or children then don't let them watch her. simple as that.
And the picture isnt bad at all. If your an adult thinking its in a sexual way then your the sick one. she's only showing her shoulders and back. There are actual shirts made like that, that teenage girls wear out!
So people need to get a grip!
Stop being big haters!
Probably jealous of a teenagers fame and fortune!

By jerome

Still another person who is sticking up for a person who could give a damn about you.

Sunday 10 January

By Roxanne

If you can't see the sexuality in that picture, you are incredibly naive. That was meant to be sexual. Yes, 17 year old wear shirts that expose their shoulders and backs. Do you know what else seventeen year olds are known for? HORMONES! Tons of them! And we (I'm 16) try to be sexual. You may not remember your teen years, or you may not have gone into them yet, but that's how it works.

As for whether Miley is right to defend herself or not. I vote "not." I respect that she knows she makes mistakes and that she still needs to mature and learn, but she should not be saying that the media needs to stop bashing her for being a bad role model. She doesn't have to be squeaky clean in reality, but the fact is that she didn't even TRY to be someone to look up to. She was not very careful with those inappropriate photos, she signed up for the shoot which is obviously sexual, and she now refuses to be gracious about it and apologize. You are on Disney, Miley. This is not the right channel for you if you aren't going to set an example.

By LoveYouHotMiley

Miley is right. The rag mags are always twisting things because that's what sells. Even on here, look at what pics they put up. The teen choice one was only one second in that performance and only Miley's upper half was shown on TV. And there's nothing wrong with the Annie L. pic except that it makes Miley look like a ghost. I always thought Annie was an overrated weirdo photographer.

Miley raises lots of money for charities and is a strong, beautiful woman. I can think of a lot worse role models than her.

You should be defending the people in your life that are near and dear to you; Not some one who doesn't even know that you are alive.

By tjm

Gee Miley, copy Adam Lambert much? lots of stars have decided to go in a different path for their careers and not had to act like an idiot doing it. do you have any original thoughts of your own?

By Spazlilsister

gee tjm, you critisize her just like everyone else did... don't you have any original thoughts of your own?

Friday 08 January

By Gail

The sad part with this "young lady" is she has no class and that is sad. She feels she has to dress and act this way because"" Parents BUY her cds for their children and take their children to her concerts. If I had young children I would not be taking them to see her. Or I would not be buying her cds. She has to grow up and then I think it will be too late.

By clmail30

c'mon miley...hurry up and turn 18 so i can see you naked..

By Ronnie

She is at one tough age -- too young to know when to keep her mouth shut, and too old to have her mouthscapades be totally excused. I would hate to have my life judged by what I said and did at her age, but then she is very much in the public eye where every word and deed are immortalized. The Liebowitz pics are beautiful, Miley is beautiful and talented; but she'd better take care of herself -- she's had a few narrow escapes already. She does not want to end up a Lohan.

Why would you care one way or another. You should be worrying about what goes on in your life, not hers.

By JJ

Jerome, how stupid and idiotic do you have to be to reply to EVERYONE that defends Miley in this topic with that argument? If they should be worrying about their own lives and defending people "near and dear to them" and not someone that "doesn't know them and/or give 'ten s**ts' (by the way, that's a new one) about them", then maybe you should also not be sitting here on this board criticizing everyone that has an opinion. Maybe you should be criticizing the opinions of those near and dear to you. Get a life.

By AC

If you're a parent that points to the TV and says "Why don't you be more like her(him)instead of what you are" you're a failure.

Jerome, why are you on this discussion if you don't want to 'discuss' the issue at hand?

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