It seems as if every week there is a new controversy surrounding former Disney star Miley Cyrus. The 20-year-old pop sensation has been all over the news ever since the debut of her single, “We Can’t Stop.” Some of the lyrics make allusions to drug use and the video showed some questionable imagery, proving to her fans that she is definitely not Hannah Montana anymore. Her performance at MTV’s Video Music Awards in late August stirred up even more negative media attention. Here she was seen wearing a skintight, nude-colored outfit and dancing around shamelessly to Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines”, whom she teamed up with for the performance. Negative attention and hateful comments were essentially the only thing that came out of it for her, as it was widely considered inappropriate for the occasion.
Even more recently was the release of her latest single, “Wrecking Ball”. In the video we see her strip down to nothing and swing back and forth on a wrecking ball. She is also pictured sexually licking a sledgehammer, and crying as she sings about how love has “wrecked” her. The song is based on her relationship with on-again off-again fiancé, actor Liam Hemsworth. But is Cyrus really deserving of all of the scorn and hate she has received? No, she’s not. She is an adult woman, who should be able to express herself however she may please. Personally, I feel as if most are overreacting. Miley is not the first female to appear naked in a performance or music video, as many other famous pop stars (such as Madonna and Lady Gaga) have done before her.
Many resent Cyrus based on where she came from. It is true that she once was a Disney star, but that should not define what she does with the rest of her career. She is finally able to be herself, and so far has gotten a plethora of undeserving hate. People need to realize that she has grown up and moved on. Among the Miley-haters are mothers whose teen girls have idolized Miley from her Disney career. Many are angry that their children are looking up to someone who is acting out in such a way. They need to understand that Miley is not the problem, but instead the obsession with celebrities that we partake in. Parents are the ones responsible for teaching their daughters how to act, not Miley Cyrus. It is not up to her to teach young girls what is right and what is wrong, even though she is constantly in the public’s eye. Besides, it is not as if anything that Cyrus has done has been too out there. She is often criticized for these acts, but there are other problems with the media that are going almost unnoticed.
Take for example, Robin Thicke. He was Cyrus’ co-performer during the VMAs, is an older married man and took place in the same sexual dancing as her partner during their act. However, he is almost being ignored as she is being condemned for the show they put on. Why is it that some are so quick to attack her while Thicke gets away with acting the same way? His video for “Blurred Lines” features entirely naked women, objectifying them in a distasteful way, yet Cyrus is being torn apart for appearing naked in her latest video while he is widely praised for his catchy new song. Cyrus being the target for this ridicule is blatant sexism, which is incredibly unfair. It is usually young female stars that are picked apart for every single move that they make, and she is certainly no exception. Miley Cyrus changing her image does not make her any less talented, and absolutely does not make her any less of a person. It is time for people to realize that she is simply expressing herself in a way she sees fit. It is completely okay for people to disagree with the way she chooses to do so, as long as we all understand that it is not okay to hate her for it.
Devon Roberts can be contacted at droberts@keene-equinox.com