Annie Leibovitz is on a roll with the offensive imagery this spring. First, there was the arguably racist Vogue cover. And now she's shot gone and taken some arguably too sexy photos (you can see more here) of 15-year-old pop sensation Miley Cyrus.This image (right) wouldn't be a big deal if it were almost any other pop singer, but Miley Cyrus is the Good Girl Role Model in the tween/teen world. She doesn't get pregnant or go crazy or flash paparazzi or do cocaine. She is just nice and talented and having fun. And this photo makes her look more like 36-year-old Marilyn Monroe than like the friendly, wholesome young woman her fans worship.
So, inevitably, there was an outcry, especially on the heels of some other not-totally-pure bra photos of her circulating online.
Just as inevitably, there was an apology, or rather a whole bunch of apologies or sort-of apologies from Disney, Vanity Fair, and Annie. But Miley did the most mea-culpaing:
On Vanity Fair: "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," Cyrus wrote in an apology posted on Sunday on the online edition of People magazine.
The bra photos she called "silly, inappropriate shots."
Okay, the sheet photo of her being sultry is a little sketchy. She's fifteen. Vanity Fair shouldn't be making her all super sexified.
But the photos of her horsing around with her friends and her boyfriend? Those don't seem inappropriate. She's fifteen. She's going to show off her cool green bra.
More broadly, she's going to have to become a sexual being eventually. If she makes the difficult transition from virginal teen queen to non-virginal woman star with grace and good humor, wouldn't that make her even more of a role model for teenagers than if she were to keep up a front of cheery Doris-Day-style faux purity into her forties?
Reader Comments ( Page 1 of 1)
1. My thoughts, Ada?
Who authorized the photo session(s)?
Who posed for the photos?
Who stands to gain with the oversexualization of this girl?
Billy Ray?
Miley?
mac at 5:53PM on Apr 28th 2008
2. It seems to many the issue is whether or not recent pictures of Miley are indecent. I say no, they are not. However, they are suggestive, and to me, that is just as bad. As for the photo shoot pics, I don't fault Miley (she IS a child), but I say shame on her parents for allowing it!
Let's be honest, Miley Cyrus isn't wildly popular because of her acting, or singing ability. It is because K I D S love her, and parents are happy, and have welcomed/encouraged their children to be fans of Miley's primarily because of her wholesome personna. Something unfortunately, very difficult to find in any form of the entertainment industry. Come on, why else would parents practically sell their souls to get tickets for Miley's concerts?
I truly believe that is why she hit a gold mine. If she's smart, she better leave things as they were; otherwise she will quickly become yesterdays news.
Karen at 8:43PM on Apr 28th 2008
3. Who expects Annie to take any other than the kinds of photos she took of Miley? I too wish she'd just be a kid for a while.
Clara at 8:59PM on Apr 28th 2008
4. It's not the blanket, it's the lipstick! Doesn't she look like a young Monica Lewinsky waiting to happen? Didn't she get political already too?
Cecil Jones at 9:03AM on Oct 13th 2009
5. How do you see the Vanity Fair photo as being worse than her in the green bra? She was only 14 when she took the green bra photo, I don't care how innocent it was intended to be, I don't think ANY girl should be taking such photos of herself, even if its for their boyfriend. She was a CHILD when those photos were taken. A 14 year old may feel sexual, but mentally they aren't mature enough. It's really sad when teens try to act like they're adults, yet don't really know what they're doing or the consequences of their actions. I'm tired of these desperate teens posting semi-nude pics on their myspaces hoping the world will pay attention to them.
Jane at 12:26AM on Apr 29th 2008
6. Miley is another Britney waiting to happen. Did any of you hear her sing on tv withOUT the help of studio recordings? Well, she CAN'T sing. Her appeal is soley based on her (until now) wholesomeness and digitally enhanced singing. It is all going down the tubes from here on out. She and her family can apologize and try to put the blame elsewhere, but we can see where it is all headed...the Cyrus family is gearing up for an even bigger financial bonanza by sexing up Miley.
jc at 8:31AM on Apr 29th 2008
7. Any product ofDisney has dark undertones. Miley is no different. It was probably done for publicity, because any publicity is good publicity. Plus, they have to set a precedent of her as a sex object for when she comes of age and grows out a little. After all, as Mariah Carey goes on to prove, you don't need originality, talent, or even good music to sell number one hits, you just need a hot body and exhibitionist, narcissistic tendencies.
Plus, the photo makes her look really, really ugly.
I'm a little bitter about this because I despise it when people and fads are popular because the companies who own them market them as popular. Pop and hip hop songs are number one because the radio stations are MANDATED WHAT TO PLAY. Disney people are popular because children are suggestable and Disney convinces children those people are popular.
Isn't capitalism grand?
Strados at 11:29AM on Apr 30th 2008
8. she looks like a freaking VAMPIRE! and excuse me,did you actually say that they hardl used and makeup?does she actually look like a vampire most of the time?
cassie at 8:39PM on May 2nd 2008