Tuesday, April 29, 2008

Billy Ray Cyrus Two Steps Away From Criticism



Billy Ray Cyrus released a statement yesterday saying that he and his wife had left the now infamous Miley Cyrus photo shoot prior to the topless shots taken of Miley and that he was "mortified" about the shots being taken. While I'm sure Billy has a busy life, his excuse kind of falls on deaf ears after looking at the other photos he took with his daughter during the same shoot. I wouldn't exactly call them portraits that would be plastered all over Christmas cards.

I'll admit the photos aren't as bad as the photos of Hulk Hogan massaging his daughter's inner thighs with tanning oil, but they still aren't going to make him dad of the year. I think with his actions he kind of set the whole tone of the shoot, and shouldn't be surprised at what happened after he left. Further, don't you think he probably had the opportunity to see the photos and approve them before they were published?

He didn't see any proofs? He didn't ask Miley what happened after her parents left? He didn't ask Miley's grandmother or teacher who had been left behind to monitor the shoot? I find all of that really, really hard to believe. I also find it despicable that he basically threw Miley's grandmother and teacher under the bus just to make sure he and his wife didn't look bad.

Who is the parent here? Who is the 15 year old being photographed by a woman who is not exactly known for staid photo shoots?

His explanation sucks, and his parenting sucks.


37 comments:

  1. Anonymous11:09 AM

    There is no way he didn't see the proofs. You even get to see proofs at the Sears photo studio. I am also sure that Disney would have been aware of a session with a high profile photographer for a major magazine. Considering recent scandals with their young stars, they would have an interest in controlling her image. I think the poses were intentional on everybody's part and when the public was shocked there was finger pointing and backpedaling.

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  2. Like I said, those father/daughter shots are creepier than the shot of her with the blanket. He's an idiot.

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  3. Anonymous11:13 AM

    How much you wanna bet this is how Daddy HOgan figured out that pedo shots will generate press? Only explanation for those oiling Brooke's ass and thighs pics.

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  4. is it just me, or are none of the pics offensive? they really don't seem like that big of a deal to me -- except miley cyrus is the most talked about thing in pop culture right now.

    also, does this whole "age/inappropriate photo" ring a bell for anybody else? hello britney spears, rolling stone circa 2000

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  5. Disney damage control.

    And no teenager should be lying against her father's crotch, for God's sake.

    Must I slap all you celebs?

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  6. I'm sick of hearing that she's a great role model. All the mommies trot out that line like Disney programmed it into them. Every week there's an apology for some skanky pics. Miley is being repositioned for the 'adult' market. Gotta build up to that Playboy spread the moment she turns 18.

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  7. Anonymous11:26 AM

    UJ, yes, they are offensive. I for one would never pose like my father's lover, all poised in his lap like we're post coital.

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  8. unicorn,
    I agree that none of the pics are really offensive. There are way raunchier stuff out there, HOWEVER, when it's a 15 year-old child, there is a problem. And you bring up the perfect example. When children are sexed up to sell magazines at such a young age, by 25, they turn into the crazy mess that is/was Britney Spears.

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  9. Ok I liked, the pic in her father's lap is beyond offensive. It's gross.

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  10. brenda22 --

    I definitely agree she's being exploited, but I thought that since she showed up at an awards show w/ veneers, hair extensions, and a mini dress. all I'm sayin is this picture shouldn't be the catalyst it's become . . . she's been inappropriately looking years older than she has for a few months now -- right around the time the hannah montana movie came out. and, in comparison, a backless photo and and a pic w/ the father that is obviously posed isn't really that big of a deal to me

    I'm with you and trix though about her being hypersexualized at a young age -- that is the actual problem

    --uj

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  11. Hasn't Familia de Cyrus ever seen a Vanity Fair magazine or an Annie Leibowitz photo? Those pix aren't gross IMO, but this isn't art either. It's a typical Annie shoot that has people talking. Didn't she take the pregnant nude pix of Demi as well as the painted body ones? Hell, I remember the big stink that caused.

    Personally, I think Miley's parents need a time-out for letting their daughter use the dark hair dye! Now, that's gross.

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  12. i think the whole family sux.
    Miley shouldn't be anyone's role model,nor should anyone on tv or movies.

    YOU are your child's role model not some overpaid,over sexualised, over hyped tween just waiting to flash her tits for more publicity.

    IMO those shots are not bad at all,but the one with her dad is creepy becasue she looks old enough to be his lov-ah not his dad. Let's be real here, Vanity Fair is not for kids and they should have avoided the cover shot with that pose. If it really is about 'art' then its just as arty on page 84.

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  13. Anonymous11:51 AM

    I don't let my kids watch the Disney/Nickelodeon crap because I think it's garbage but I am amazed at all the moms I talk to who have girls who are obsessed with Hannah Montana and all the other teen stars. They should not be role models, but so many parents are only passively involved in raising their children. Once children presented in a sexualized way in the media, their fans think that this is an ok way to behave. The 7 year old girls in my son's class are acting provocatively and the moms say they get it from tv. Wake up parents and turn it off.

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  14. Unicorn,
    You're rightm the problem is bigger than just the picture. I think she's been exploited for a while but I guess the picture just made people step back and actually notice that hey, it's not ok. These teens are too young to emotionally handle everythig that is thrown at them so they end up having a break down and turning into alcoholics, anorexics,cutters, etc.

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  15. Agree with dbf that they're backpedaling. AND throwing Annie Leibovitz under the bus, too. Everything is so controlled and analyzed; they didn't expect the reaction they got, that's all.

    Personally, I don't think they're such scandalous photos. They're pretty boring, IMO. In fact, I think Annie could have done SO MUCH MORE with these two.

    I'm more pissed that they pretended that everything was out of their control and that Vanity Fair pulled a fast one on them. That's utter bullshit.

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  16. DBF, No Nick or Disney?!!! What about Spongebob???!!!!! Dang, you're mean!

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  17. I agree with Twisted Sister; the father/daughter shots are extremely inappropriate and offensive, but in this instance, you'd think Billy Ray Cyrus would know better. After all, he's the adult here. Their arms shouldn't be slung over each other as they are--they look too much like lovers. I guess my question is, what image was the photographer hoping to evoke?

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  18. Here's my two bits. Miley doesn't stand a chance of making rational/moral choices, based on the fact that she isn't growing up in the real world. Daddy had his 15 minutes, and it felt good, and dammit, he was gonna get that back. "The Business" is just that, and there is no way, NO WAY, anyone standing around watching that photo shoot had a blip in their head that said, "uh, maybe that's inappropriate?" because to them, it isn't. A sheet, pshaw. Why is this more jaw dropping, earth shattering, than the damn internet photos? Because it's a magazine? I was more disturbed by those than this picture, because THAT my friends, was HER choice. Her moral compass is gone, people. She's chronologically 15, but that's it.

    I think a real, honest-to-god concerned, worried parent may have had an issue when she decided to get the fake chompers put in. If my 14 year old says to me she wants veneers put on, the WTF look would be pulled out and then there would be a talk about getting the normal thing like braces done first before drilling into her perfectly acceptable, tween/teen teeth. It's gotta start somewhere.

    Whoo, sorry for the rant. It's been building....:>

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  19. Anonymous12:58 PM

    Billy Ray Cyrus is an ass. He was an ass back then. That kind of assitude doesn't change with time.

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  20. I am really torn over these pics and the recent things that have been happening with Miley. I really like her a lot and so do my kids. I think she's cute and funny and talented. She's got a great voice and I think the show is funny and sweet. That said...it's just a show.

    I really want to believe they meant no harm in these pics. When I first saw the top pic, I thought BRC's hand was on her thigh, but then realized it was Miley's. The thing is that an innocent dad who is close with his little girl wouldn't see anything wrong with hugging her in the this way, and maybe we are all reading too much into it...or maybe Annie meant it that way.

    I honestly think the time out Disney is putting on Miley is a really good idea. I just think this whole thing has exploded beyond anyone's original expectations, even for the Disney scale and they just aren't prepared for it.

    Hopefully, Miley can use a little down time to get her head together. She's way too young to be having the weight of the world on her shoulders like this. I hope she can take the time to regroup. I'd love to see her succeed.

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  21. bottom line to me is that this child...CHILD... is 15 yrs old! And no one thought that posing her naked in a sheet (like it's the morning after )was inappropriate?I don't care if it is Annie Lebowitz shooting them - and isn't annie doing a series of disney fairytale pics w/ random a & b listers for Disney??

    Christ if I was working the frickin krapfs service lunchline i would have said something to somebody about glorifying the child for the pedophiles.

    and it's disgusting that everyone involved is playing the blame game - own it people you are whoring the kid out. I don't care how much money she makes or how "mature" she acts - she is 15 and needs to be told what her limits are.

    AARRRGH! SORRY guy but man this just pisses me off!

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  22. Anonymous1:26 PM

    Sheetrock:
    I mean the Disney/Nick teen oriented shows. I have a 7 year old boy and a 3 year old girl but many kids their age watch Hannah Montana, Zoey 101, etc. and I don't think it's appropriate for the little ones.

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  24. of course billy ray and his wife knew about the photos. they also signed the release forms. it doesnt matter if they were there or not to approve or disapprove. THEY STILL SIGNED THE RELEASE FORMS.
    they are only pointing fingers because they expected everyone to compliment the pictures. it didnt work so now they need an excuse and they only look stupid.

    how did they NOT do a background check on annie? im sure they had it in their mind to do something sexual in the beginning.

    sure the pictures are pretty but think of what its implying. when you first look at these pictures you see a 15 year old with her back exposed playing the role of a tease. "you can look but you cant touch". the pictures are meant to be arousing NOT artistic.

    it shouldnt be surprising that she would STILL try to prove how "hot" she is with all these releases of her.

    if she was older these pictures would do better. but think about her status DISNEY TEEN QUEEN WITH 10 YEAR OLD FANS.

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  26. Anonymous2:14 PM

    Disney is not like it used to be. If Mr. Disney was still alive he wouldn't put up with this BS that is going on.

    Miley is a kid wanting to be a grown up quick. Just look at the way she is dressing up.

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  27. spring luvr i think you accidently deleted yourself.
    if El deleted it it would say removed by blog admin.

    i'm sorry but blaming the photog is complete BULLSHIT. its fuckin Annie! please these friggin hillbillies and their camp can point the fingers all they want it's not the photogs job to protect a 15 year old no matter what idea she had for a picture. what, her granny or anyone else couldn't stand up to big bad Lebowitz? give me a break.

    bad parenting choices for your whored up looking daughter! own it!

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  28. I agree its wrong for a 15 y/o to be exploited like this.

    I just don't agree that "like this" is sex and p0rn.
    What I'd like to know is this: how many of you are aroused by it and therefore think its bad...versus those of you who think others (men) would be aroused by that, and therefore its bad?

    I see that picture, it doesn't stir my arousal in the least. Maybe if I was another 15 y/o it would, but hey, when I was 15 all it took was a bra strap showing.

    The daddy/daughter pics come off a little creepy, but you know...not decidely sexual, IMHO. I have pictures of me and my daughter where I look a little creepy too, if you didn't know us. But everyone who does know us understands that she's daddy's babygirl, and its a completely innocent and healthy parent-child love.

    I just think there's a TON of over reaction and misplaced outrage about the nature of those pictures.

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  29. Anonymous2:54 PM

    The South Park guys were spot on. Miley's next for the corn field! ;)

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  30. Those are underage incest stroke pics masquerading as arthouse porn. Either way: maybe your daughter, but sure as Hell not mine.

    In fact, she looks like the girl at my high school who did the hockey team. Her whole family comes off as a bunch of inbred skanks. And as for her statement about being creeped out by older men lusting after her. . .

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  31. All adults involved here are accountable - Vogue, Annie Leibowitz, Disney but most of all her parents.

    Not much shocks me these days but when I first saw the sheet pic of Miley I was disgusted - pedos everywhere were probably gagging. The line keeps getting crossed in Hollywood. If your not shocked by these pics and all that they imply then you should be.

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  32. Ugh. The internet pics were worse but it's so disturbing that they are sexualizing this kid. Are we learning nothing from Britney??

    And the parents covneniently "left" before the really offensive pics were taken? Yeah, they knew what was going down but just didn't want to hang around to watch it.

    Way to use your kid, BRC & wife. Stop seeing her as your own personal money maker and start seeing her as your kid!! Do you want her to be knocked up by the end of the year? Or have an STD?? Cause' any girl who looks like this is probably having or soon to be having sex.

    Am i just getting old or does 15 seem too young to become sexually active?

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  33. well... i had first gone to the VF site and saw these two - my first reaction was hmmm a couple... are they getting married?

    and then i got creeped out.

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  34. Let me explain what is going on here. This entire fiasco is DISNEY's fault, Miley was probably told by the Mouse to say those things about the VF shoot because some Disney EXEC fraked up big.

    If you followed Disney you know that Leibowitz has been doing the Year of a Million Dreams shoots, where several stars have been photographed as famous disney characters. Recently there was a photo released of Juilanne Moore as Ariel. It is very tasteful and nothing like the VF Miley pics.

    Someone at Disney saw Annie Million Years stuff and then contracted her to do a shoot for VF, and told her to do whatever. Now with the million years shoots, Annie was on a script and told EXACTLY what to do.

    Here she went free reign and the Disney people are freaking out as Miley and Hannah Montana are their major draw card.

    Some EXEC at Disney is going to be getting the AXE.

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  35. If you think the Miley/Daddy shots are "normal," would you take the same photos with your own dad? With your arm between his upper thighs?

    I think they were living in a bubble, taking "artsy" shots, and forgetting about the real world and how everyone would react.

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  36. Hey, wait -- is this the blind where daddy joins his daughter and friends in the jacuzzi? Because now it's adding up...

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  37. get the f**k ova it! it doesnt even matter helllooooooo! i mean seriously u ppl need 2 get out more! there is nothing wrong with those photos! i mean sure i wouldnt take photos like that with my dad but thats bcoz i dont talk 2 him! u wouldnt b sayin anything if it was her mum or sister instead of billy ray! worry about ur own lifes and wats happening in them instead of other peoples!

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