Moms of young girls all across America are still reeling form the recent media surprise involving the Vanity Fair photographs of teen television sensation Miley Cyrus, of Hannah Montana fame. Americans everywhere- from water coolers and blogs to middle school hallways and print magazines- are discussing the racy photos of the tween idol.
The Controversy
The June issue of Vanity Fair features a photo spread of the 15-year old pop star posing with only a sheet draped over the front part of her body. International superstar photographer Annie Liebowitz took the portraits of Cyrus and her father, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.
The Reactions
Leibowitz indicated she did not intend for this negative interpretation of the photos. “I’m sorry that my portrait of Miley has been misinterpreted,” she said in a statement released by Vanity Fair. “Miley and I looked at fashion photographs together and we discussed the picture in that context before we shot it. The photograph is a simple, classic portrait, shot with very little makeup, and I think it is very beautiful.”
Miley’s employer, The Disney Channel, also issued a reaction statement to the media, stating, “Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines.”
Miley’s Apology
“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," Cyrus said in a statement released to news media.
What Parents Can Do
News media have widely reported parental reactions to the issue. Parents of young girls all across the nation have bought everything from $500 tickets to Hannah Montana concerts to t-shirts, sheets, and CD’s, and they aren’t happy about these photos of the one-time role model of their kids.
TV and newspaper interviews report a variety of parental reactions, but the majority involves extreme disappointment. Parents are depicted discussing a range of issues: bad choices, mistakes made, body privacy and media overexposure are among them. Girls of varying ages are able to comprehend the controversy at differing levels, and parents have to use their best judgment when deciding how to respond to kids’ inquiries.
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