Miley Cryus explains exactly why she took back her apology for posing 'semi nude' when she was 15
There are many celebrities who divide opinion, but Miley Cyrus must rank pretty highly on the chart. Alongside Kanye West, Miley has as many fans who are enamoured as she does people who despise her. There are those that saw her twerking, tongue out, 'molly-popping' phase as simply a big middle finger to those called on her to remain innocent forever. However, on the other side, there are those people who think Miley should seriously consider her status as a role model and the impact she may be having on persuadable young girls.
But, while Miley may have attracted a large amount of scorn for her behavior in recent years, it all began when she was just 15-years-old. The teenage Miley appeared on a Vanity fair cover shoot in which she was seen semi-nude and clutching a towel to her bare chest. Speaking about the furor at the time, Miley said:
“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,” said Miley, who had shot to stardom playing “Hannah Montana” on cable’s Disney Channel. “I never intended for any of this to happen, and I apologize to my fans, who I care so deeply about.”
The photographer behind the photo, Annie Leibovitz, also apologized for the upset caused.
“I’m sorry that my portrait of Miley has been misinterpreted,” she said. “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.”
However, that was 10 years ago and now, and the grand-old age of 25, Cyrus has decided to withdraw her apology and has laid the blame at the people who thought that the photo was sexually provocative in the first place. Appearing on Jimmy Kimmel Live, the "Wrecking Ball" singer said:
"Sure, some people thought I did something wrong in their eyes. But I think it was really wrong of someone to put that this is my shame, and that I should be ashamed of myself," said Miley.
"I think at that time, I just wanted this to go away, and I was trying to balance and understand what being a role model is.
"To me, I think being a role model has been my free-spiritedness and sometimes my unapologetic attitude for decisions that I feel comfortable with.
"I know this will probably get turned around too, but when this photo was taken, my little sister was there on set.
"There was nothing sexualized about it on set, and it was everyone else's poisonous thoughts that turned it into something it wasn't meant to be.
"So, actually, I shouldn't be ashamed. They should be."
It's hard to disagree with Miley on this one, given that she was the girl at the center of all the commotion. Good on her for speaking out against the issue and withdrawing her apology.