Mick Hume
The man, the films, those blondes. Free DVD collection starting this Sunday
This week's big moral question is apparently: “Should a 15-year-old TV actress show her bare back and shoulders in a grown-up magazine?” I have another one: can't we be adults about this?
Miley Cyrus is the teen star of the Disney TV “smash” Hannah Montana, in which schoolgirl Miley leads a secret double life as pop star Hannah. Her budding stardom (Miley's, not Hannah's) is now threatened by a backlash after Vanity Fair published a half-naked photo of her wrapped in a sheet, looking coquettishly over her shoulder with bedroom hair and bright-red lips.
Let me declare an interest. “As a parent” I hate Hannah Montana, one of the sickeningly saccharine high school TV shows our young daughters love. It is all teeth and false tans and homespun moral philosophy dispensed by Miley's real and TV father, Billy Ray Cyrus of the deeply meaningful Achy Breaky Heart. I might cheer reports that Disney now plan to drop Hannah, but another one will take her place.
But there is more at stake here than trashy teen TV, or discovering “where Hannah ends and Miley begins”. The furore suggests we are all confused about where childhood ends and adulthood begins. With frequent rows about the alleged sexualisation of children, nobody seems sure where to draw the line any more. An apologetic Cyrus says she thought Annie Leibovitz's pictures would be “artsy not skanky”. But who knows where the art/skank divide might be when such a goody-goody popster as Miley goes on stage dressed like a “saucy” St Trinian's girl?
The problem lies not with children, but adults who have lost a clear sense of what it means to be a grown-up in a world of kidults, adultescents, mummy's boys and big babies. I thought the most “revealing” Vanity Fair picture was the creepy one of her on her 46-year old father's lap. Never mind the bedsheet, look at him preening in his long greased hair, sleeveless vest and tattoos. As Howard Stern says: “It looks like his daughter is his girlfriend. He's trying to be hot.” Little wonder that kids don't know how to behave if adults act like dorks.
Experts now warn parents that, as one psychologist says: “Miley is a role model for so many young girls, many of them as young as 5” and her behaviour could make them “put on sexy clothes, take a sexy photo or maybe even have sex”. What all this reveals, however, is not that Miley is a “bad” role model. It is the downright stupidity of the Mickey Mouse notion of meejah role models, the belief that some teenage squeaker could or should teach our children to sing from the right hymn sheet.
By all means hang Hannah Montana and tell Miley to put her top back on and wipe that muck off her face. But if we seriously think her “kiddie porn” picture will render parents powerless to stop the corruption of our children, or that execrable TV shows can provide lessons for life, then we really must be living in a Walt Disney world.
Mick Hume is Britain's only self-confessed libertarian Marxist newspaper columnist. His Notebook column appears on Fridays, and he also writes a weekly Thunderer column. He is also editor-at-large of spiked-online.com. which he launched as the online descendant of Living Marxism magazine. Hume is an ex-grammar school boy from Woking with a season ticket at Manchester United who lives in London
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i'm 13 years old. cant stand her. what happened to real role models? nobody has talent anymore, especially these disney "stars" disney exploits children watching at hom she says she's a christian, but dances around in a mini skirt and wears tons of makeup. GIVE ME A BREAK. she has no talent!!!!!
jenna, detroit, USA
Well some good has come of this - an entire swathe of 15 year olds has discovered The Times (thanks to Google, probably). Maybe this will help strengthen their critical faculties and wean them off Hannah Montana.
Shirley, London,
The show is awful, and it's no fault of Miley's.
The writing, acting, premise, sets and primary colours everywhere, and lastly the singing.. awful, all of it. The whole thing reeks of a uniquely American combination of smug self-applause and pure ignorance, tarted up with an occasional moral.
iain carstairs, bedford, uk
hannah is a young and good girl I think all of this is just riduculas miley cyrus are just confues by the photographer.I think that we should not blame miley cyrus she got feelings too I think this is just a misunderstanding just forgive her
sammatha, seatle, USA
I think that they should get rid of that picture. I mean, kids will follow it and don't bad things when they see the picture. In the TV show I don't think her dad should act like a kid, that means when kids get older, they can be kids also.
Star, Usa,
I don't like her becuase I think she can't sing & the only reson why she is famous, is becuase her dad was the one they wanted on the show.
Star, Usa,
I think it's disgusting! She is making her money selling to 5 and 6 year olds. She is yet another irresponsible celebrity. I will never buy another Hannah Montana product again! Disney is also being irresponsible.
tucker, lewsiton, usa
Vannesa posed all nude. Miley was covered. Just because her back showed, people are being cruel. Everyone that burns hannah montana items are loser. get a life.
carla, milwaukee, USA
I think what she did was art and it was beutiful. Doesn't art class teach you to paint nude pictures or sculptures. You see more teens wear less than that at the beach. No one had anything bad on her so they took this picture and blew it way out of line.
Pam , Jim Thorpe, US
The Cyrus did mess up as parents with this shoot but you may want to look at yourself and what you let your kids see and watch.Don't buy the magazine!Don't support Annie this is not the first time she has done this!As parents you need to gard your kids you make sure they only see the kid side of her
Monica, Greenbrier, USA/*
This is absolutely ludicrous; a girl who should have been a wholesome, genuinely talented icon for children to like is well on the way to becoming another Britney. The responsibility does lie with the parents, but this was a stupid move by Miley, considering how intently people follow her career.
Jill , Parma,
hannah is smart nice cute and a great singer but l blame this on the photo graph shes a tennagers what are you expecting vannesa did a mistake too and she still has fans
alexandra suarez, grand rapids, usa
It's not that bad. I'm sure she didn't turn up to the photo shot and tell them how to take the photos. As for disney dropping her for the photos i highly doubt it i mean the high school musical chick got to film high school musical two after her nuddy photos went up on the net.
sam, texaz,
Did anyone actually read this article through to the end or has everyone spectacularly failed to get the point?
Esther, London,
Imagine the pressure the celebs of today are under. Everyone makes mistakes there's are just in the spotlight. Get over it, it's just her back i've seen worse at the beach.
sam, texaz,
what are your guys promblems dont you remember she was a 15 year girl don't worry every one makes mistates
alexandra suarez, grand rapids, usa
As a mother of a media deprived 7 year old I couldn't agree with you more. Especially about the creepy photo with her dad, that is the one I would be worried about. All said, I would rather her see a photo spread of Miley Cyrus taken by Annie Liebowitz than watch Hannah Montana! Thanks!
Cere Demuth, Friday Harbor, WA, USA
I think as a 13 year old girl Hannah makes me feel emowered, like I can fufill my life long dream to be a famous singer. She smart, beautiful, and the best part is she doesn't even try to be so pretty. II like the photo. Before banning Hannah Montana ask the kids their opinons. We all have a say!
Justice Horner, Surrey, Canada
I think this whole thing is stupid. I blame the entire thing on the photographer. Did she not know that Miley was 15? I think the pictures of her with her Dad are great, and what young girl does not wear mid-drift tops if they can. They need to concentrate more on serious thin
DiAnne, Grand Rapids, USA
What is the big deal? Vanity Fair didn't select the best picture for their cover. But do we have to crucify Miley for the same thing other "tween" stars are doing? Did everyone suddenly forget about Vanessa (Gabriella) Hudgens? She may be an "adult" now but girls of ALL ages still look up to her
Anne Marie, Little Egg Harbor, NJ, United States
Am I really the only one who doesn't see the big deal about this? The people perving and obsessing over a fifteen year old need to take a long hard look at themselves.
Elizabeth, Dublin,
Any fault here is not Miley's - she is a minor and should be protected. She's been let down just when she needs protection, during the difficult transition of adolescence.
As for sitting in her dad's lap - I do that, and I'm 35. It's called affection!
Lyn, Birmingham, UK
I think the names of those posting here (mostly young girls and their apologists) and what they have to say is the strongest possible confirmation that what the article says is correct. Whatever so called liberals think, young girls are not mature enough to make valid judgments on these issues
Bob Finbow, Haverhill, England
this is ridiculous everyone knows hannah montana is a good person and all the kids love her to death all parents who hate her think about your kids for a minute your kids love hannah montana don't you care what they want they'll crazy if hannah is taken off the air take time out and think about them
kyera burnell, portsmouth, usa
everyone makes mistakes - maybe yes fame has got to miley's head - that doesn't mean u have to hate her. I'm sure when most adults were of her age they did some strange things 2 but because they weren't famous it wasn't posted everywhere!! she's got talent and has made an amazing career for herself!
hayley, London, England
I didn't realise so many teenage girls read the times!
Or were they just googling Hannah Montana?
Neil, Portsmouth, G.B
I have to agree with Cherrie.
All you have to do is change channel and she has said sorry .
Btw I don't think i'm gonna hear/see a 5 year old have sex...
Sean..., Tawa, NZ
I think that "Hannah Montana" is agreat show.I do not Believe that Miley is nota good role model. the TV show is great, its funny and she act like she is keeping a good secret because she acts like no one but Lily and Oliver (her friends) no that she is Hannah Montana. My Ki Alicia loves it.
Stefanie, Minto, Austalia
Yes of course.We'd all like our daughters to grow up without the influence of Hollywood.Much better they grow up to the influence of the sub-cretinous, alcohol swilling, cocaine snorting, bed-hopping,violent, morally linguistically and aesthetically repellant role models of Eastenders and Hollyoaks.
eric campbell, harrogate, uk
Evil prospers whilst good men and women do nothing OR the Devil makes work for idle hands !!!!!!!!!!
Ian Payne, WALSALL,
I think we all realize it's bad for young girls to be made into sex idols, and this was clearly a lapse in judgment. But she's already apologized. Girls do make mistakes, especially young ones who enter the business and are overwhelmed by the attention and fame. We should drop it. She's apologized.
Amy, Hixson,
Wow, aren't you going a bit far with that statement about the father-daughter picture? I'm 21 and I still sit in my dad's lap. Perhaps your own insecurities and your perverted mind are twisting things. Parents should be the ones to teach their children morality; you can't rely onandthenblamethemedia
Juniper, Chattanooga,
My God, the poor girl made a mistake in judgment, leave her alone! If disney drops her for an error in judgment, they obviously have forgotten the adage 'he who is without sin cast the first stone.' Why does this country have to make something dirty out of everything.
Reen, Akron, OH
Wow, you 13 year old saren't seeing the picture. No 13 year old should be wearing tube tops. Miley is setting an example that posing with no clothes is sexy. Someone who is 15 should not be posing as SEXY. And Vanity Fair should have realized this.
Kimberly, Ledyard,
I love you Miley! And I love what you wear! Im 13! And I love you~! KEEP ROCKIN'! Wooooooo!
Krysta, Fort. Myers, USA
wo! Go miley!
Krysta, Fort. Myers, USA
Go Miley! Go Miley! I am 13, and I wear Tube tops, 2 pieces but My Dad has a fit. And my Mom thinks its Cute. And Maybe thats whats happening now. Why should anyone concern what she's wearing. You could be wearing Ugly shirts while she is wearing cute Shirts. Jealous Parents. Go read an O mag.
Bye.
Krysta, Fort. Myers, USA
I Love Hannah (Miley). I have a 5 year old little girl that adores her. Miley's a good girl, and it seems that her dad really cares for her. People need to mind there on business. If you don't want your kids watching her turn the channel.
Cherie, Dubois,
She wasn't naked. She was wearing a shirt with a strap on her waist and neck. Why would she do that? Miley's the angel of the hollywood world!
dana, pasidena, USA
Get a life Hume, you are way off!
Debby, Nashville, USA
I like Hannah Montana!!!! She rocks. so buzz of
Morgan Mayfield, Springfield, United States
how would her father alow that...she is ONLY 15
Annet, Seatle, USA
I used to lke her but she is a bad girl, its like she turned into a nother Brittany Spears.
Morgan Mayfield, Springfield, United States
i used to looovvvee her..now she is turning into vanessa hudgens!..i even have a book about miley cyrus
Sierra, Flordia, New Orleans