why can't kids be kids

[Jasper]

I have seen the Vanity Fair photos but not the internet ones. The problem with the Vanity Fair photos is not what is shown, but rather what is implied by the entire setting - particularly in the one of her in the sheet and the one with her boyfriend. The only "skin" that you see in the photos is her back. But the problem is that the way the photos are staged makes you think of one thing only and that thing is sex. And that is why people are upset about the photos. Parents of children from age 6 through early high school had thought that perhaps Miley Cyrus was someone that was "safe" for their kids. These photos put that way of thinking in jeopardy!

[crazeedizneefinatic]

I'm not willing to go along with the same old excuse that all her handlers, etc. 'made' her do it. She can make the decision to go for the fame and fortune, no matter what it takes, or to maintain her own sense of decency and take responsibility for what she does.

300% agreed, looks like people will choose money over their reputations or childrens for that matter. In the "real" (non hollywood) world parents would put their foot down and say absolutely not. I know at least we would. When Billy and company was presented with the deal he thought first of their mortgage, expensive cars and lifestyle they are accustomed to and need to make money to support. Maybe they though for a brief moment that it was okay because that is what they are surrounded with. I think the only reason Miley is saying she is embarrassed now is because they were caught being greedy and doing anything to gain fame and fortune. Her reputation is tainted, at least for now.

[GoinGoofyPlanninThisTrip]

IMO...
I think this story should be a bigger issue for both Annie Leibovitz's and Vanity Fair's lack of judgement.

Do you think Disney should have had a representative present at the photo shoot since it is their "product" and company image at stake?

It's always sad to see the Disney kid stars do things like this whether it is in their personal or professional lives (i.e. Brittany, Lindsay, Anne H., and to a lesser degree Shia and Miley).

[diz_girl]

I have read other articles about this and it appears that her parents were there that day, but stepped out of the studio at the time that this photo was shot. However, her grandmother (yep, granny) and another "handler' were present when this photo was taken. Also, the other articles mention that these photos were taken digitally and could be instantly recalled on a computer monitor, and were shown to her and her parents and granny immediately afterwards and they all approved of them. So the argument that Vanity Fair and Annie Liebovitz are taking advantage of a young girl is a bit of a stretch. Miley's only now embarrassed because Disney is unhappy and that the pictures will hurt their, and subsuquently her, bottom line.

As for the other pictures in the Internet, those are pretty much an announcement to her parents of "Welcome to the realities of raising a teenage daughter in a Girls Gone Wild/Real World/My Space/You Tube world". Girls Gone Wild ushered in this era about a decade ago. MTV's The Real World (after season 4) brought it mainstream, and now with My Space and You Tube, teenage girls everywhere feel the need to go through this rite of passage of exposing themselves on camera. Of course, the men love it, until it's their daughter that they're seeing on the screen.

It reminds me of the Saturday Night Live skit that showed a father (Will Ferrel), mother (Molly Shannon) and daughter in her early 20s (Kate Hudson, I think) sitting in front of the TV when a Girls Gone Wild ad appears. The ad then shows the daughter several times exposing herself in videos taken in various cities. When the ad for the New Orleans video comes on, the father asks the daughter if she has ever been there and she says no and the father is relieved. The ad then shows the mother exposing herself for some Mardi Gras beads. It's a funny skit, and I wouldn't be surprised if some father found himself in a similar situation.

[crazypoohbear]

I guess I am just to skeptical.
If I were 15 and someone asked me to take off my clothes, wrap myself in a sheet and look longingly over my shoulder with a come hither look I think I would know that the picture would not be "disneyesque"
I sure as heck know that my parents would take me home as soon as the photographer said take off your top and bra!

I don't blame Annie L. she was doing what she was paid for, she is "cutting edge" and was going with what she was "Allowed" to do.

Her parents, grandparent AND hander were all there to say "stop, you've crossed the line" Miley is old enough to say no.
They all thought they would kick it up a notch but it backfired and now they are blaming everyone but themselves.
Welcome to hollywood! buckle up it's gonna be a bumpy ride!

[Dsnygirl]

Because my girls love HM so much (and b/c I've also enjoyed her & the show, with the hope & prayer she can stay away from what's happened to other Disney stars...) I looked at the photos when I saw this thread, too.

What's sad is that if you go to Vanity Fair's website and look at their video of the shoot and their candid shots of the shoot, they're TOTALLY different than what they've chosen to publish! The shots of her that they're showing on their website in defense of her complaints are great - cute, nicely done, tasteful for the most part.

But the shot they doctored up and are using for their magazine is so awful - the coloring and everything about it is so ugly - I don't blame Miley for hating it! She and her parents may have seen the photos, even this particular shot (which I agree, shows too much bare back to make me comfortable) but I doubt they saw the "end product", which is so totally different than the rest of the shots they're showing us.

It's sad - we'll probably never know the truth of who knew/saw what before the picture was published - but today's kids are so over-exposed on every level that they're becoming immune to it all. Regardless of what Miley and her parents were thinking, there is still an element to her that is too mature for her age - I've thought so since she appeared in Disney's Christmas Parade in that little white dress. Pretty, but way to short and tight for a 15yr old.

I still like the show, and have hopes for her - but I have to be honest - I've pulled my girls away from watching the show for the past few months b/c at almost 7 & 10, they just don't need to believe that they get to dress and act in such a "mature" way - they have a hard time seperating their age from hers, add to that the fact that even Miley at 15 shouldn't be doing/wearing some of the things she does/wears.

So - I do hope this turns around for her - I'd hate to see things continue they way they've seemed to be headed lately.

[Dakota Rose]

Maybe it's just me but I can't say I find them terribly scandulous. While I understand she's a role model for young kids (my 6 year old nephew is one of her biggest fans) she is 15, which in todays world isn't really a kid anymore. She's still young but 15 year olds are in high school and are starting to grow up. I know when I was 15 (I'm 21 now..) I ran around on the beach in a bikini and wore halter tops in the summer that exposed my whole back.

Again, I realize she has a lot of exposure to young kids but then maybe young kids should be watching shows aimed to young kids and not ones for young teens/adolescents. Personally I don't understand why the show which revolves around middle/high schoolers (correct me if i'm wrong) is targeted to kids as young as 6 and 7.

just my feelings on the matter..

This is actually a very enlightening response. Dulcee is right. In our culture, 15 is not a child anymore. We only have ourselves to blame for that. I'm only in my 30s, but when I think back to being 15, I see a lot of differences. Teens are now a huge marketing target demographic, and unfortunately that means they are inundated with the same types of advertising targeted at adults (i.e. skimpy clothing, provocative poses, etc). I mean, I remember when Sweet Valley High and 90210 were "risque". By today's standards, they're cliche and old-fashioned. And, what's worse is Dulcee is also right about targeting 6-7 year old kids with tween and teen images. But we can't just blame the media, or even the child-stars' parents. We need to put the blame on ourselves too, because we buy the stuff they sell us!

That's just my and I will now step off my .

[PirateLover]

The personal photos I don't care as much about. I mean yea is it a little "racy" especially since her bf is there... sure. But for the professional one, I think it's completely inappropriate, and not artistic at all. To be honest, she looks like a child prostitute from a third world country. She is FIFTEEN!!!!!!!! And it is not the same as a halter top. Her back is exposed almost to her buttocks in the full photo. The insinuation is definitely meant to be Lolita-esque - I am bare naked under this sheet come and get me. With the number of children who get abducted and molested or even murdered by men with sick perversions every year, especially in the era of the internet (hello? anyone watch To Catch a Predator) this just really makes me upset. Girls recreate poses of their idols all the time. Let's be honest, If any of your young daughters had a picture like that on their myspace page you would be very upset. The fact that her parents were on set and approved just boggles my mind. She had a perfectly nice image that is bringing in a billion dollars. Why on earth does she need to become "edgy" at such a young age?????

[Dulcee]

As for the other personal photos on the internet (I just got finished reading the article about them from CNN) I was surprised they even bothered to mention shots that involve her with a boys arm around her waist or her cuddling on a couch with him.

Again correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't she kissed boys and dated guys on the Disney show? If parents are going to let their kids watch shows with teens in them, they need to be prepared for the realities that come with a teen's lifestyle. And yes, 15 is very much a teen. The reality of high schools now ( I was there three years ago, my 16 year old sister is there now, is that 15 year old girls date boys. They go out to parties, even the good, modest straight-A girls who stay out of trouble. ) I think we really need to give Miley a break here.

[PirateLover]

Again correct me if I'm wrong, but hasn't she kissed boys and dated guys on the Disney show? If parents are going to let their kids watch shows with teens in them, they need to be prepared for the realities that come with a teen's lifestyle. And yes, 15 is very much a teen. The reality of high schools now ( I was there three years ago, my 16 year old sister is there now, is that 15 year old girls date boys. They go out to parties, even the good, modest straight-A girls who stay out of trouble. ) I think we really need to give Miley a break here.

I think most people have more of an issue with the Vanity Fair shot, not her personal photos.

[Jeff G]

The photo I am most bothered by is the Vanity Fair photo. In my opinion the photo suggests that she is naked under the blanket and for a 15 year old I find this very inappropriate. I wouldn't want that to be my DD nor do I want her thinking that is normal or OK in any situation at 15. The photo in question was taken by an adult with adult supervision and an adult editor allowed it into the magazine. The magazine and the people involved are exploiting her to turn a profit and it disgusts me.

[thrillme]

I remember an old photo of my mother when she was probably about 17. She was wrapped in a satin top and photographed from that point up bare shouldered. Nothing was showing...but it was stylish then.

Photos have a way of being touched, angled and enhanced to a point that when they were being taken...it really didn't look like much. I think the parents made a mistake...I think Miley thought she was "pretty" and wasn't thinking anything else. I have no doubt they probably saw a softer warmer looking photo than the one that appeared. The photographer should have known better but her job was to start chatter.

It's a lesson for her to be careful because there are a lot of people who are going to try to make a buck off of her.

Other picts that are circulating are supposedly look a-alikes. Good grief. These days there are so many.

[SBETigg]

I don't think the personal photos are look-alikes. She is supposedly straddling her confirmed present boyfriend. No two people are going to look that much like both of them, plus they are allegedly posted on her own Myspace page. The girl is fifteen. That's what a lot of fifteen year olds do now. The problem is with the hypocrisy. She wants to present an image to appeal to her audience that isn't in keeping with her behavior.

The Vanity Fair "topless" picture disturbed me a bit, but the ones with her draped over her dad were worse to me. Fifteen is a little old for that. They seemed pervy to me. Her parents have final approval on all shots. They had to have seen the finished product before it went to press. To blame the photographer and magazine for manipulating a fifteen year old is ridiculous.

Miley knew exactly what she was doing, and the "I'm embarrassed" excuse is simply to appease the younger fan base, which is insulting. If anyone is manipulating her, it would be her parents. But I think they're simply caught up in the rush and looking to have the best of both worlds- to appeal to Miley's current fan base while pushing her toward a more grown up career level. And the problem may be the same with lots of parents who can't take responsibility or say no to their kids.

[Marker]

Amazing.

So many being so quick to cast negative judgement, with or without factual information, without both sides of the story, without even seeing the "offending" pictures.

And the blame being tossed around is of course aimed at the person who some might actually consider to be the victim. What about the photogapher?

I'd be willing to bet that if this was a story that wasn't about a celebrity, people would be in an uproar about the photograhper who would take advantage of a minor. But since it's a celebrity, the whole attitude of the story changes. Guess celebrities are automatically guilty, and could not possibly ever make a mistake.

[WDWRox]

Personally I could care less, but I think Disney really needs to put the smackdown on these stupid kids. If it's not Vanessa Hudgins posing nude and having those photos all over the place, it's now the untalented, flash-in-the-pan Miley Cyrus trying to go down the route of sleaze. And I don't buy their claim of "oh we just though they were pretty photos and totally innocent" either. That's just garbage.

[PirateLover]

I'd be willing to bet that if this was a story that wasn't about a celebrity, people would be in an uproar about the photograhper who would take advantage of a minor. But since it's a celebrity, the whole attitude of the story changes. Guess celebrities are automatically guilty, and could not possibly ever make a mistake.

It's hard to try to change the situation because it is what it is. Annie Leibovitz is a famed celebrity photographer who often takes "edgy" photos. I think one of Miley's quotes was "You don't say no to Annie." Well, really? I think a 15 year old and her parents can band together and tell a photographer that the edge is being pushed too far. I agree with Sherri. I think they knew exactly what they were doing. I mentioned in the Movies, TV, Music forum that her song "See You Again" is now being played in bars and on on regular top 40 radio. Her fan base is expanding and this was probably an attempt to appeal to an older crowd because lets face it, tweens don't read Vanity Fair. But the question is why did they feel the need to do that? She is still as huge as ever with her current fan base. She couldn't wait 3 more years to do something like this? When you purport yourself to be a role model, everything you do will be under scrutiny.

[Disneyatic]

The personal photos I don't care as much about. I mean yea is it a little "racy" especially since her bf is there... sure. But for the professional one, I think it's completely inappropriate, and not artistic at all. To be honest, she looks like a child prostitute from a third world country. She is FIFTEEN!!!!!!!!

This was exactly what I thought! The picture of her with the sheet looks terrible to me. It has almost a gray palor, her make-up and hair look terrible, like she is some neglected street child that was forced into taking the picture.

Regardless of who was on the set, when the photographer said "take your clothes off, drape this sheet over you and turn your back bare back towards me" the adults should have said "hold it, no "bare" pictures" and the photographer, artisitic or not, should have known better than to put a 15 year old in bedroom type situation for picture purposes.

It's a sad demonstration of the loss of innocence that our children face so early on now.

[beksy]

I am in agreement that this was definitely a bad decision on Miley, her parents, handlers, etc.'s part. She is a remodel for teens and needs to remember that. It's not like she is at a stage where she should be trying to increase her audience to older people by doing shoots like this. She could say no and should have said no. On the other hand, everyone makes mistakes and I think she should be given a little break, especially with the personal photos on the web. After all she is at the age where she wants to go out with her friends and have fun and experiment. These pictures were private, not like the Vanity Fair ones, and probably never meant to be broadcast. Yes she is a remodel but with these particular pictures she was also just being the kid that she is. Her image may not be squeaky clean but I don't think that irreparable damage was done (at least it wasn't sex tapes or Playboy or something). Everyone involved made a mistake with the photo shoot (it looks horrible without even considering the sexual aspect of it) but we need to move on and just keep an eye on her future moves and hope this has been a hard lesson learned.

[GrumpyFan]

I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not trying to be extreme with this, but isn't this kind of bordering "exploitation of a minor" or in some places wouldn't this be considered close to child pornography? Whether or not it is, it never should have made the front page of a magazine. Those pictures do not belong there, and her parents and Disney should never have allowed them to be used. Vanity Fair took advantage of the situation by publishing these pictures and now stands to make millions off of what I consider exploitation, but then I'm not her or her father.

[momof3+twins]

Think back to when you were 15. Would you have felt comfortable being photographed topless even with the blanket? I feel bad for her. I think her parents need to think about what is more important, money or their daughter. I think she needs to get out of the business before it is too late.