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 09 January

By Chelsea

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So it's not her job to be the mother of young children everywhere but she can take it upon herself to criticize the parental techniques stars twice her age practice??

By nat252

I am not a big miley Cyrus fan but I agree with the things she said.After all she is just 17 she doesn't have everything figured out yet.Parents should realize that their not doing their jobs properly if there kid says I am going to do something just because Miley did it.People need to stop reading deeply into some of the things she does.She not perfect just like the rest of. Being famous doesn't make stars perfect.

By Spazlilsister

i work with children and ya know what? they don't know about the pictures, they don't care about her tatoo and they don't even know what a stripper pole is. that is the only thing that matters. when there is a kid that knows these things about a girl that you don't know but feel like you need to rip apart, it is because their parents told them for no good reason but ruining childhood innocence just to prove a point they see. if ya'll just kept to yourselves then she would be just fine at her JOB. it is a JOB. too bad the child sold her sole to you leaches. and there is no reason not to feel for her... i mean, what is the harm thinking nice thoughts about people even if you don't know them, never will or even if they are the anichrist.

but honestly, if i were in her shoes, i'd probably be saying the same thing... she doesn't need to grow up, ya'll need to. she isn't everything to everyone and she has no reason to keep on feeling horrible for every little step she takes. stop watching her so much and take a look at the rapid loss of innocence in your own child due to your hatred.

By Brian

Miley your great and learning to be an adult in a fast paced life as a kid has got to be tough. Take care and just remember to be you and you will go far!

By BeeBee

what a wh0re. . .

By Frank

NO BUT YOUR MAMA WAS!!!!

Sunday 10 January

By Brandon Bennetzen

That is most definatly "Hannah Montana" psycho talk!!!!

By jjjwkjohn4

Funnt she says she isn't the mommy but disses Angelina and her kids what oxymoron from a supposed adult

By D.C.

Meh, she'll be out of the spot light as soon as she's too old for Disney, just like: Hilary Duff, Olsen Twins, Vanessa Hudgens, etc.

She does need to shut up though. She's 17 years old and still growing up yet she has the idea of calling out other Hollywood mothers?

She needs to do a better job as being a role model, because if she likes it or not, she's a role model. No more underwear pics, no more stripper polls, no more running of the mouth, no more telling other moms what to do.

::Waits for a 13 year old with 4 Hannah Montana posters hanging on her wall to call me an idiot::

Tuesday 12 January

By Sirena

Miley Cyrus is just a shame to America. If you didnt want to be seen as a role model for kids then why did you work for Disney channel? why are you making all these songs appealing to kids? Some children actually do look up to you, and if you know they are your fans why are you letting them down like this? Taking pictures of yourself in your underwear was outrageous what normal girl does that? Pole dancing at a teen choice awards? really now? and then dating a 20 year old man who also is a underwear model that was just over the top. Please do us all a favor and just stop.

By Bill

I believe people should avoid mistakes rather than embracing them. Many people do not make "mistakes". They misbehave on purpose.

By what?!

Miles Cyrus, you are NOT that pretty. Shame on her parents.

By Chris

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Who cares the only reason why she got anywhere is because of her father, her father was washed up so he pushed her, he endorsed her every step of the way because he saw dollar signs, she stinks! She is a spoiled, little brat and give it ten years you will say Molly who?

By sam

get ready, shes fixin to go dirty.

By daina

its entertaiment yaw,its draws the crowds. i'm a dancer aka stripper myself n u hav 2 do crap 2 stir ppl or u'll jus b anothr boring person that takes her clothes off. miley is doin wat it takes 2 b successful n this sexualy driven society,plus shes a teenager 4 godsake,she wants 2 b bad didnt we all.

Friday 19 March

By maragin

i don't agree with you miley is just a person she has feelings just like u and me . she makes mistake and she will learn about every single day. i am also a teen myself i make mistake too. i am a big fan of miley so back off give her a break. because want u say dose not hurt me and miley fans and miley .
i am a big fan of miley so deal with it. you are not her mother so dont tell her want to do . that's her moms job!

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