Vanity Fair Stands Behind Miley Cyrus Photos

In case you missed it, there was quite a hub-bub yesterday over the photos of Miley Cyrus that appear in the June 2008 issue of Vanity Fair. In the photos, Miley appears topless-ish: she holds a loose piece of fabric over her chest as she works the camera. Miley issued an apology, there was plenty of speculation over whether photographer Annie Liebovitz had manipulated Miley and every major media outlet had their, "OMGZ SEXUALZ!!!1 SHE'S LIKE JAMIE LYNN WITHOUT THE FETUS!!!! I think?" freakouts.

Vanity Fair responded by posting their behind-the-scenes video and candid photos from the shoot, which show Miley's dad, Billy Ray, in attendance and Miley smiling and joking. The message appears to be, "See? How could we be exploiting her if she's smiling?"

Erm. Well.

Here's what I think: Miley is 15. Do you remember being 15? It's a pretty crazy time for even your most average Jane, let alone for an international superstar poised to be worth $1 billion. Do you remember why it was crazy? Because you were still kind of a kid but at the same time you were probably becoming a sexual being. Not necessarily having sex, per se, but getting comfortable in your skin as a woman who will at some point have and enjoy sex, who will enjoy feeling sensual. And you probably wanted to, were probably dying to convey that in some manner.

Honestly, I thought the photographs were gorgeous. And let's take a moment to remember who Annie motherfucking Leibovitz is. She's a master. She is able to get to the meat of her subjects, which is why I think these images were so provocative. Beneath all of that Hannah Montana crap, Leibovitz drew out the woman in Miley, and how she was feeling one gorgeous day in California when she was 15. Can you imagine having a picture of yourself like that? Let's not forget, Annie Leibovitz took this picture:

I mean, what can you really say about that picture? It's beyond words. That's the kind of artist that she is.

The problem, of course, is that Miley's fans are all kids. Sure, they'll all be 15 one day and will have the same kind of feelings that Miley is having, but for right now it's got to be confusing for them to see her in that way.

And that sucks, honestly. It sucks that Miley can't just feel how she's feeling and express herself how she wants to express herself.

But I don't know that she's mature enough to think all of that stuff through, which is why one of the adult types at the shoot should have said, "Hey, these particular pictures are awesome, but let's keep them for your private collection and publish these fully-clothes ones instead."

Or maybe media conglomerates shouldn't put their child stars in a position where they must have wisdom beyond their years and enough money to have those closest to you get bloodthirsty and then shove you into the spotlight to defend your 15-year-old self who, sorry, isn't yet that bright about life, especially after they tell you that you're going to ruin everything for them and for yourself and you'll be a huge joke and all of that money and fame and crap that you worked for will be GONE. Maybe THAT'S where the exploitation lies.

photo source

Comments

[JennyM]

Well. Said.

[Michelle]

Honestly, I was more disturbed by the picture of her and her Dad looking all cozied up. Um. That's your DAD.

[AmyC64]

Michelle, I was also unnerved by the cuddley Billy-Miley shots. I can't help but wonder if there isn't a little "OMG Annie Liebovitz!!" from them, too. I mean, she's looking through the viewfinder, she's telling them it looks great! It'll be fabulous on paper! And all that time, wouldn't you be a little, "Welllll, if you say so. I mean, crap, you're Annie F'in Liebovitz". I really hold her responsible alot. Not entirely, but alot. Cripe, she's a mom of girls. Would she want her little girl smattered across America like that when she's 15?

Ya know, my kid's 11 and loves Miley. But now she's confused and dissapointed in Miley. She's confused by the messages Miley is sending. And I'm dissapointed in the grownups. It's not a huge deal in the world, but it's fairly large in our world this week.

[amalah]

Between this and the offensive King-Kong-like LeBron cover for Vogue, I have to sort-of wonder where Annie's head is at right now.

I didn't really find the pictures gorgeous, though. Miley looks bony and sickly and not like a girl who's owning her sexuality. There was definitely something a little...post-molestation/shame/woeful about her face that is very far from the cute happy expressions you see on the behind-the-scenes shots.

I don't know. I know this is a tiny blip in comparison to say, the fact that HALF of the modestly-dressed FLDS teens removed from the compound are pregnant or have already given birth, but damn, even BRITNEY was a couple years older than Miley before she started losing her top for adult-oriented magazines, and look how well that turned out.

Another South Park prophesy coming to life! Save yourself, Miley! America wants to destrooooy you!

[michelle]

the picture of her & her Dad is made creepy when viewed in sequence with the shot of her appearing to be naked in a sheet with bedhead & red lipstick!

While she may be Annie Liebowitz and the picture may be artistic, if some average Joe had it sitting on his computer it would likely raise some serious questions and investigations into what other pictures of 15 years might be there.

[daysgoby]

well said. However wonderful the artist is, is it art if it exploits?

[rednexmama]

I really do think that a lot of the "ick" factor of these photos lies in the styling, lighting, etc. It's not even the poses or the facial expressions, or the subjects themselves. Hey, my daughter cuddles on the couch with her Dad watching Disney movies all the time, and I could probably take a picture of them in that same pose... But I wouldn't have them all dressed in black trying to look all "sultry". And hey, I love me some Annie, but lighting, styling, etc. IS the photogs responsibility. And amazing artist or not, she's not infallible.

[Sils]

I will stand by my assertion that Miley's fans aren't only 11 year old girls, but are also other 15 year old boys, and 16, and 17, and 18...

I think that it's possible that this was poor judgement on her part, and the part of her handlers (even if he is her dad). WHO LETS THEIR 15 YEAR OLD DAUGHTER GET THAT CLOSE TO NAKED FOR A MAGAINZE SHOOT? You know, especially if you're interested in maintaining her virginal, Disney career?

Which leads me to theory 2: this wasn't poor judgement but an intentional step forward for marketing her to a larger audience. She's going to have to grow up sometime and she still wants to make money. I see all of her camp's statements as serious backpeddling at this point.

It's gross, but are we surprised in a world where Dinah Lohan milked one teenaged cash cow dry and is priming another for the pump as we sit here typing?

[jodifur]

You know what's interesting, I showed my husband these pictures last night and asked what he thought. (He has no idea who Miley cyrus is.) He said, "she's too thin." (He has this thing about all hollywood woman being too thin and putting unrealistic expectations on women). I then said, she's 15, and he said, hmmm, well that changes things.

My point is, in a vacum those pictures are fine. But she is 15 years old!

[Sils]

Jodifur, that was the other thing I noticed. Why aren't more people concerned that you can almost count her ribs through her back? Creepy.

[disnazzio]

Did y'all catch the Slate article about Disney's Chinese underwear ads? http://www.slate.com/id/2190209/?from=rss

*shudder*

And kdiddy: amen.

[MySpace Codes]

Haha Jamin Lynn without the fetus haha. I still think it's wrong!

[Nic]

I just have to say that I want to snuggle up with Amalah right now because I am THRILLED that I was not the only person thinking about the South Park prophesy.

[Jenny]

I have a "two sides of the same coin" issue with all this crap. 1) Why is Miley even on the cover of VF in the first place? Because 2) It's not a kid's, or preteen, or really even teen magazine, is it? Which is to say, she did an adult-like photo shoot with a legendary photographer for a prominent magazine. And while I understand that she is a role model for this group of fans, etc., etc., etc., those same fans shouldn't really be reaching beyond the Disney and Teen Vogue rack for the latest issue of Vanity Fair. But maybe that's just me.

[DianaCLT]

Angela - I just clicked on the link you included. That billboard is messed up! 'Hey everybody - let's have a tween looking all cutesy with her Mickey and Minnie handpuppes! And to attract a REALLY wide audience - pedophiles included - let's have her playing with said puppets in her bra and panties!'

Feeling rather nauseous now.

[kdiddy]

Jenny, as far as I know, Miley was not the cover for VF. the pics were for an internal article.

[Heather B.]

I've been listening to this entire thing being played out and I must say that though I really don't care either way, I fall into the "It's Annie motherfucking Leibovitz camp" nor do I think that Miley was exploited. I'm guessing the opportunity presented itself and she was all over it. Then again, we'll never know. And I doubt it came as a shocker or that she was all that remorseful upon first seeing the photos. It isn't like Annie Leibovitz is known for shooting photos of puppies and kittens. She's always done the nudity thing except this time because it is a 15 year old girl who 8 year olds adore, then it's a huge deal.

Anyway that's my opinion even though I claim to really not care.

[BeLinda]

She's 15 in a grown up magazine. what could she POSSIBLY have to say in an interview that would be enlightening and informative to grown ups? She does list Sex and the City as her favorite show and I am not really on board with that being appropriate either.
The pictures with Billy Ray SQUICK ME OUT. ew.
but considering the body of work that Annie is known for, I was really pleased they were clothed and she wasn't spread eagled on a pick up truck in daisy duke shorts or something.

[tom]

sh*t, when i was 15 i was all about some things that mainstream america STILL isn't ready for. and believe me, compared to what i was up to this is very very very lame. not tame, LAME.

as for kids being confused and disappointed, who cares? sorry, but life isn't always Barney and Hanna Montana or whatever. if this is confusing and disappointing to them, just wait for real life. that's gonna really be a doozy for them.

[Really]

WoW...
Miley Cyrus naked in really video http://celeb-film.com
and
Miley Cyrus Shocking video here http://newhotpeople.com