Defending Miley Cyrus

The controversial "Vanity Fair" photos recently released, showing wholesome "Hannah Montana" star Miley Cyrus in provocative poses, have created quite a firestorm of criticism from outraged parents. They feel that the popular Disney singer/actress has betrayed the young fans who look up to her by having such risque-looking photos taken.

While I understand the angst of these parents, I think that their demonizing Cyrus is unfair. Lest they forget, she is a 15-year-old child, whose professional life is largely directed by adults. If these folks want to blame somebody, then they need to focus on the grown folks who should have been looking out for this girl's interests.

Although Miley Cyrus travels on the road to her concerts, she is always accompanied by adult family members. It is essentially adults who control her career, so you have to wonder which of them dropped the ball, in terms of protecting her.

"Vanity Fair" photographer, Annie Leibovitz, is well known for taking photos of her subjects that will cause a sensation, so Cyrus's handlers should have been aware of that fact, before allowing her to pose for these pictures. According to Leibovitz, the parents of the teen star saw and approved the photos. Since Miley Cyrus is still under 18-years-old, an adult would have to have signed a release.for "Vanity Fair" to be able to use them.

If any errors in judgment were made, it was on the part.of the adults involved, who should have realized that the nature of these photos would be unfavorably perceived. Still,though, I don't believe that Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus had any intention of making a decision that would harm their daughter or her career.

They may simply have been too gullible to realize that Leibovitz may have been manipulating the situation and just did not understood the true gravity of this situation. By all accounts, Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus are loving, responsible parents.

Miley Cyrus has been vilified by some people,who appear to be blaming her, as though she has the wisdom of an adult. The truth of the matter is that, like most girls her age, she isn't mature enough to always make the wisest decisions for herself and when the grownups she trusted for guidance failed to step in, she thought it was okay to pose for the infamous pictures. Evidently, no one told her otherwise.

The media- ever gleeful to see a celebrity career injured- has jumped on this story, as though Miley Cyrus is two steps away from becoming another dysfunctional kid star, like Britney Spears. The very fact that the Disney phenomenon has always projected a persona of innocence is why TMZ.com and other gossip outlets have been standing by, waiting for a hint of scandal to occur.

They enjoy nothing so much as destroying celebrities with a pristine image. Before this incident, Miley Cyrus's conduct has been consistently wholesome, so it's unfair to dismiss the good she has done, because of this one situation.

Certainly, the photos are out there and, realistically, they have caused some damage. However, the girl has apologized and ought to be given the opportunity to move forward, from this point.

Yes, Miley Cyrus is a major star and a role model to the millions of young female fans who adore her.

Let's not forget, though, that she is also a 15-year-old and cut the kid some slack..

By: Ezriela Devereux
Published: 05/14/08