When Will Miley Cyrus Learn to Not Let People Film Her All the Time?

By John Mitchell Posted Dec 10th 2010 03:50PM

Pop-Ed: When will she ever learn? As video of Miley Cyrus hitting a bong loaded with salvia sears itself into the collective consciousness of the Internet, it's hard not to wonder why the 18-year-old mega-star has once again allowed herself to be filmed in a compromising situation.

Cyrus has a long and storied history of letting people film her doing silly things. Whether she's grinding on director Adam Shankman or posing for pictures while slanting her eyes, Cyrus, who began her professional career in 2001 at the age of eight, has repeatedly endured criticism for her off-screen behavior ... behavior none of us would even know about if she'd simply ask her "friends" to put the camera down.

We want to be very clear here: We are not chastising Cyrus for her behavior. She is young, her life is her own, and by all accounts, she did nothing illegal. Once upon a time, we were teenagers too and we did some stupid, reckless things. Of course, we're nearly a decade Cyrus' senior (gross!) and came of age before ~~the Internet birthed a generation of compulsive narcissism~~ technology had advanced to a point that made documenting our every move possible.

But therein lies part of the issue: Cyrus is acutely aware of how the Internet works, uses that knowledge to her advantage and has been down this road before -- repeatedly. On multiple occasions, she's seen her Myspace, Facebook and YouTube accounts hacked and had her private photos leaked for the world to see.

Video of a then-16-year-old Cyrus dancing with Shankman, 44 at the time, at the wrap party for her film 'The Last Song,' which he produced, was all over the Internet earlier this year. PopEater's story on the video garnered 251 mostly-mortified comments. In that same story, we included a poll asking readers if they believed the dance was inappropriate; 78 percent of the 27,768 responses we received answered in the affirmative.

Did Miley's Reputation Take a Hit? Reactions From a Chilly Times Square:

In February 2009, a photo of Cyrus and friends slanting their eyes leaked onto the Internet and was met with outrage. At the time, OCA, a national organization dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans, issued a statement admonishing the singer-actress, saying: "Not only has Miley Cyrus and the other individuals in the photograph encouraged and legitimized the taunting and mocking of people of Asian descent, she has also insulted her many Asian Pacific American fans."

These are just two of the bigger examples. Cyrus has endured several other mini-scandals after her private life has gone public in unintended ways. From controversial Twitter posts (she's since quit the social networking site) to countless racy leaked photos, it just keeps happening again and again. Yet, there she was today, screaming nonsense after taking a hit of a psychoactive herb.

While Cyrus was likely unaware that her dirty dance with Shankman was being recorded, she clearly knows she is being filmed while smoking salvia. TMZ's entire video is one long interaction with the anonymous girl wielding the camera. Which begs the question: Why is this young woman -- who's been burned so often by leaked photos and videos -- so complicit in being filmed yet again doing something she has to know, regardless of its legality, would inspire an outcry should it go public, as so many of her private moments unfairly do?

Maybe Cyrus simply refuses to believe that within her circle of friends exist rats willing to sell her out to the highest bidder. Perhaps her notion of what is and isn't private differs from that of the average person because she's lived her entire life in the spotlight. But with each new photo/video scandal, it becomes clearer that she never learns her lesson.

Let's hope this latest debacle finally serves as a wake-up call for Cyrus to put the camera down. Teenagers do stupid things all the time, and mostly there isn't much consequence. But when you are a pop sensation and movie star, the world is always watching and the market for schadenfreude is limitless.

Tags: miley cyrus

Comments

(49)

Friday 10 December

By Erin

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She needs to grow the hell up! You're 18, you're an adult now... start f'n acting like one! I can't stand this poptart!

By Sarah

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Adults smoke too, you know. Adults are alcoholics too, so quit saying she needs to grow up because she doesn't. Life is short, have hell fun while you can. Who cares what she's smoking? Maybe she doesn't care if these kinds of things go public, that's why she doesn't mind the cameras being around, ever think about it like that? People just need to shut up about what this girl is doing. Worry about your own life and let her have fun in the way she wants.

By Shan

In her defense, she is only 18 and at that age most teenagers are really just getting their adult training wheels put on. People need to cut her some slack, but she also needs to tell her friends to leave the cameras at home.

By Howard

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Who cares. I like her more now:) Shes an adult she can do what she wants. Nothing wrong with smoking:)

By jasozmpoiu

This doesn't surprise me one bit. She knows exactly what she is doing. Her parents are divorcing and she's crying out for help. Maybe if she behaves bad enough her parents will stop the divorce proceedings and start paying attention to her (for once).I love this , So does My boyfriend .he is almost 11year older than me .i met him via aged'ate.c'om a nice place for seeking age le ss love.which gives you a chance to make your life better and open opportunities for you to meet the attractive young girls and treat you like a king. Maybe you wanna check it out or tell your friends.. Just love it

By Beth

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Calling names and using expletives is a great way to admonish someone to act mature.

By Alice

This is to Sarah. Umm...Mature adults do not smoke. I don't know where your from but that's not what majority of America does. I'm around Miley's age and I never do that crap. I have too many people I'm afraid I'd disappoint. If that can keep me from making bad decisions, than the thousands of fans of Miley should keep her from doing this. She has a obligation to them that she can't undo. Just seems like she's a stupid teenager who likes to stir up trouble. Then there's the justification of "oh every teenager does it" First off, thats entirely untrue. And not "every teenager" is a pop star who appeals to young girls. If she had any brain cells left from all that smoking, she'd know not to do this stuff.

By HMKIOWA

Another young woman that could have set such a wonderful example for todays girls, gone. Too bad, with her fame and following she could have certianly been a good role model.

By mike

dumb Hollywood what do you expect

By themeeker

She is so stupid it actually aggrevates me. With all her money you would think she'd have SOMEONE on her staff that would help her control the outsiders that take advantage of her. But someone took this video and cashed in.

Miley...sorry honey, but you are a brainless jerk and every dollar you lose over this is your own fault.

By georgie

What do you expect from a self centered twit. She has the brain cell of an amoeba, of course I don't think an amoeba has one, so that is her.

Sunday 12 December

By loveyouhotmiley

@themeeker You really need to get a life if what Miley does bothers you so much. Why do you keep clicking on stories about Miley if you don't like her? Duh!

By dick

Sounds like we will have footage of her demise for history.

By Heartbreak Kid

Listen, I'm no fan of hers, but if she wants to do stuff like that, why should it bother YOU??? The people it should bother are her parents and her management. You should keep an eye on your own kids; but your kids would never do anything like that, would they? All you trash-talking holier-than-thou "good Christians" have raised perfect children and you know everything they do, right? Then you reward them with stuff this Christmas that they don't appreciate and they continue to smoke, drink and f**k behind your back. YOU PEOPLE have made her a role model..she just wants to have fun. MERRY F***IN' CHRISTMAS!!

By tony

yeah,then let them get some guns and HAVE FUN,your a moron.

Saturday 11 December

By Miranda

She's a kid and it was legal. I don't see the problem in this.

By caymus77

So.... let's review....Miley is 18,isn't wearing a Hannah Montana costume, and takes a hit from a bong containing a LEGAL substance.

What's the big deal? Why is this NATIONAL news??

Much ado about NOTHING!

Miley did a good job in her stint as a role model,donated huge amounts to charity, and should not be expected to be a role model for the rest of her adult life.

The Miley haters will hate her no matter what she does

By Good Lord!

For all of these people saying to give her a break because she's ONLY 18, give ME a break! How old do you think a lot of the people are serving in our Armed Forces?? Especially in other countries like Iraq and Afghanistan! Puhleeze, this girl has been around the block a time or two since she's been "in the business" since she was 8. If this is what she's doing with cameras around, imagine what she's doing without them.

By JEB BUCKINGHAM

Miley, if you're going to do something really stupid, like smoking an illicit heb and get high, DON'T let anyone film you doing it!

By talia johns

seriously. this is just getting old now. its almost like she's doing it on purpose."yeah bring your camera. wait. but dont show anyone" "now tape me while i sip on this good s***." im not suprised

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