Originally Posted By Kira <<But Kira, its not this 15 year olds girls responsibility to raise yours or anyone elses kids>> I didn't say it was her job to RAISE the kids, I said that she is a role model to many kids whether we like it or not, and many parents don't teach their children that miley cyrus/hannah montana is just a character. So how are the children supposed to know any better when no one is teaching them right from wrong, and the ones the kids want to be are the "Miley Cryus's" and "Britney Spears's" of the world? Miley poses in nearly nude and racy photos proving to her fans that it's "Ok" to do this and the childrens parents don't do much better by not teaching their children the difference between real life and a contrived character. I feel that in these circumstances both Miley and the parents are at fault. Miley is at fault for photos that will have an impression on her fans and the parents are at fault for not parenting. I would be willing to overlook the issue if it was just one or two photos because YES Miley is human and a teen and those lapses in judgement happen to the best of us, but the fact that these types of photos continue to be taken and released on her part is foolishness. No one is punishing her for the photos and she keeps on taking them because everyone around her puts the blame on everyone else BUT Miley. I also believe that Miley isn't doing a very good job living up to the squeaky clean image that she tries so hard to sell off to her fans in magazine and TV interviews. Nobody likes a liar. I agree with mele, britney spears was the "role model" of my generation and her controversy began with racy photos as well, does anyone recall the cover of rolling stone that caused a huge uproar? Thousands of girls that looked up to britney spears tried to follow in her foot steps by dressing like her in revealing midriffs and skirts too short for their age on a daily basis. It's a lose/lose situation for everyone and the ones I feel the worst for are the kids that don't know any better and don't have truely good role models to look up to.
Originally Posted By mele Do you have a young daughter who is dying to be as much like Hannah/Miley as possible? Disney is definitely banking on that fact. Sure, to them it's just money to be made but don't think they aren't thrilled that she IS considered a role model to millions of little girls (and maybe some little boys). As an ADULT, I realize that this is about making money and how teens live their lives but my daughter doesn't know the difference. Right or wrong, she IS a role model. If she wants my young daughter to look up to her and to spend all of her money on her, then she should be appropriate. Don't be on a kid's show, don't sell your products in children's stores, don't sell dolls, etc. If you want to be an adult and look like a skanky 15 year old, then do it and aim your career at older people.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 I think the path Miley is taking, is way too similiar to the path Brittney Spears took, it's actually kind of scary if you look at it closely.
Originally Posted By mele Also, Hannah/Miley is everywhere, talking about being a virgin and loving Jesus so darn much. She's so cool and great and also likes to pull up her shirt and take photos of herself while lying in her bed (in the same bed that was shown on her tour bus when she was on Oprah's show...with an audience full of children.) Now I get to be the mean mom who has to come in and lecture my daughter, limit my daughter's exposure and basically make my daughter feel guilty about liking Hannah/Miley. My daughter still idolizes her and wants to be like her, and now she knows how much I dislike it. Sure, I've got some power of my daughter but she's getting to that age where her peers and famous people have some pull. I don't appreciate this situation with a *current* disney star.
Originally Posted By WilliamK99 The problem mele, is sex has become so commercialized that most Americans are ignorant to what it does to their children. The fact that a young girl at the age of 10 or 11 can go to one of these "boutiques" and make themselves look like a cheap "lady of the night" is horrible, coupled with the fact that parents actually pay for their daughters to dress up like that. Then add in the fact that at a young age these kids are exposed to sex on a constant basis. Then we as a society wonder why so many kids get pregnant or are sexually active at such a young age.
Originally Posted By dshyates My 2 daughters (7 and 12) couldn't care less about Hannah Montana. They do enjoy playing my friends Wii Hannah Montana game, but I refuse to buy it for them. An around the world shopping trip is a bit vacous. What I find more obscene than a young ladies back is how Disney has shoved this commidity down everyones throat. Disney's super saturation marketing of everything they touch is really disgusting. Does anyone remember the classy and reserved Disney that existed before they started this super saturation marketing? It kills anything they do it to. And I would expect Miley to implode eventually. This is a lot of pressure for a 15 year old girl. Everyone expecting her to be perfect all the time. She may subconciously be doing this on purpose. It is difficult enough going up in the media spotlight, much less having millions of girls emulate you.
Originally Posted By wahooskipper I don't like a 15 year old, regardless of the "stardom factor" to be dressed, or undressed, like this in front of the nation. But, call me a prude. I don't like young girls being all made of for Glamour Shots and I sure as heck don't like seeing little cheerleader girls doing the bump and grind as if were "cute". But, that is just me...the over-protective father of a two year old girl. Why do we rush to have our kids grow up? Can't they just be kids?
Originally Posted By dshyates OK, Who's a better role model. Gwen Stefani or Mylie Cyrus? I would rather my daughters look up to Gwen Stefani. But those shoes look dangerous.
Originally Posted By mele Well, little girls love playing dress up to look like grown ups. I loved playing with my mom's make up and wearing her high heels. I don't have a problem with that sort of "playing". It just needs to stay a play activity. My daughter loved Gwen before she loved Miley. Gwen wears some interesting (and sometimes odd) fashions but she has often been quite modest when it comes to showing skin. Of course Miley deserves to live her own life. I remember what it's like being a 15 year old. She can be naked all she wants (apparently) but she can do it without my cash.
Originally Posted By RoadTrip The saddest thing is that we as a society seem to think it is perfectly normal and acceptable to look to athletes and music/film stars as role-models. We are collectively at fault for letting such a stupid idea exist. To blame Miley or her parents or Disney or Vanity Fair is a little disingenuous in my opinion.
Originally Posted By barboy I will start off by saying maybe it's just my computer screen but that photo clearly shows (to me) a young female calling for sex. The backdrop appears to have blue and gray hues and the girl looks pale but she has ***accentuated*** red lips. OVERLY ACCENTUATED RED LIPS like a female Baboon's privates helping her attract a mate in the wild. Can this get any more carnal? I would say this is on the brink of underage porn--- nicely done VF, Miley and parents; you really are a work of art and help our children with poses like this.
Originally Posted By dshyates "She can be naked all she wants (apparently) but she can do it without my cash." Now thats the spirit. Miley is growing up. At this point in her life she shouldn't be a role model for the <12 set. I fully expect young ladies Miley's age to want to be seen in a more adult light. No, she is not an adult, but she's not a child either. In the media outside of the Disney empire she is going to treated like a beautiful young lady, and she needs to be prepared for it. I do belive she has learned from this. And she needs to tone down the religous rhetoric as it will put her in a spot she can't live up to. People will expect her to be saint-like because she goes to church. People think that church is about being saint-like, when in reality, most people go to church and ask for the strength to not fall. Being a faithful church goer doesn't mean ou are perfect. But as far as these pictures, they are real pictures of a real girl growing up. And are not a harbinger of the "Brittney" to come. The back shot shows less skin than the bathing suit she wears to the pool on a regular basis. So until she starts showing real irresponsile behavior, (drinking and driving, proving to the paparazzi she is "going commando", Drugs) I have no problem with it. She needs to learn how to handle the fact that she is a sexy being in a media world. My fear is that the industry will eat her alive like it did some of the others. Either she grabs the bull by the _____, or it will kill her.
Originally Posted By mele Except Miley and her parents KNEW going into show business that this is exactly what it would be like. They wanted this attention. If they just wanted to make music, they could do that anywhere. They're chasing this sort of fame (just like Britney and her family did/do). I'm just saying that they can't have it both ways. If she wants to be a Disney star, be on a kid's network, then she should be prepared to keep her wilder side out of the public eye. If she wants to be a sex symbol (at 15-creepy), then it's time to transition into the next stage of her career by moving on. Listen, I didn't complain about her rolling around on the floor of a hotel room with her girlfriend and I didn't complain about her sexy dance moves. I remember thinking about sex all of the time when I was 15. I don't expect her to be a nun. I've seen multiple photos where she's posing suggestively. They seem to be appearing every few weeks and it's a bit suspicious. (Of course, I could just be the voice of the Satan attacking her, for crying out loud.) If this is a ploy for her career, it's gross. My first thoughts at the first and second group of photos was that her parents would put a stop to them (out of concern for her career more than anything else) but now it just seems to be part of being a starlet in Hollywood: create sexy photos when you're underage, then suddenly a sex tape gets stolen and released and your career is MADE. Maybe an MTV reality show would be better for Miley at this stage of the game, not a show on the Disney channel? I agree, society is comletely to blame for making idiots famous, but can't I rant about it, just a little? ;-)
Originally Posted By dshyates "I will start off by saying maybe it's just my computer screen but that photo clearly shows (to me) a young female calling for sex. The backdrop appears to have blue and gray hues and the girl looks pale but she has ***accentuated*** red lips. OVERLY ACCENTUATED RED LIPS like a female Baboon's privates helping her attract a mate in the wild. Can this get any more carnal? I would say this is on the brink of underage porn--- nicely done VF, Miley and parents; you really are a work of art and help our children with poses like this." Barboy, its attitudes like this that I find far scarier than the pictures. She is showing far less skin than she would at the hotel pool. Remind me to dress my daughters in a tent the next time I take them to the pool in case you are there. Its a bare back people, and she has on lipstick.
Originally Posted By jdub >>OVERLY ACCENTUATED RED LIPS like a female Baboon's privates helping her attract a mate in the wild<< LOL, but--that's the FASHION, right! It doesn't MEAN anything! Right? Nor does the way girls turn around & bend over when they dance, nor does the jeans-around-the-knees style of young men-- it's just simple, innocent FASHION! It's innocent!
Originally Posted By dshyates "I'm just saying that they can't have it both ways. If she wants to be a Disney star, be on a kid's network, then she should be prepared to keep her wilder side out of the public eye. If she wants to be a sex symbol (at 15-creepy), then it's time to transition into the next stage of her career by moving on." Once again we agree. But here is the difference. I have no desire to continue buying Hannah Montana merchendise. You, or specifically your kids do. I do believe it is time for Miley to move on, and for Disney to find another age appropriate product to hock. Asking Miley to portry a innocent TV character is one thing, asking her to BE a TV character is another. When a young lady starts to develop a body that regardless of dress is going to attract sexual attention, its time to move them out of the role of innocence. And to be honest, I am more concerned about Miley and her development than the impact on your kids. Chances are you kids will be fine. The track record for Disney chld stars isn't promising. Disney doesn't care about Miley. Billy Ray knows this and I believe is positioning Miley for a post Disney career.
Originally Posted By barboy "She is showing far less skin than she would at the hotel pool." If you reread what I wrote you should understand it's not the exposure of skin ---- it's the overexposure of ****RED**** lips I find offensive in this context. Red lips like an aroused female baboon's privates to call forth her male companions during mating season. "Remind me to dress my daughters in a tent the next time I take them to the pool" ---look, no need for the defense or sarcasm. Maybe you didn't read DAR's thread on girls in Mexico at the pools/beach who were topless. I have no problem, none, with anyone, any age naked on beaches or pools if that is the way they want to enjoy the water because it is innocent fun and enjoyment. But that photo while not showing "nudity" is straight up offensive due to its subject matter--- some very adult themes going on. There is a proper context for everything.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Billy Ray knows this and I believe is positioning Miley for a post Disney career." Seriously, have you ever seen a less provocative, provocative shot. It shows nothing. You see her back, and she is wearing lipstick. They created a media firestorm without damaging her long term reputation at all. Trust me. Posting this pic on the internet would get zero hits without the accompanying manufactured outrage.
Originally Posted By dshyates "Red lips like an aroused female baboon's privates to call forth her male companions during mating season." You scare me. So all women who wear red lipstick (of any shape) are trying to make their face look like a baboon's vagina. And are calling for sex.
