JT says Miley is a “victim”
Posted on May 5, 2008 | Category: Miley Cyrus, VABN topics
And as much as it may pain me to do so, I HAVE to agree with Justin Timberlake. I’ve been thinking what he said in this article with MTV for the past week over Miley’s “scandalous” pictures for Vanity Fair.
Long before he brought sexy back, starred in movies, became best pals with Timbaland or played the role of “the cute one” in ‘N Sync, Justin Timberlake was just another cog in the Mickey Mouse money machine, logging two seasons on Disney’s “Mickey Mouse Club.”
He’s also spent pretty much every waking minute of his teens and 20s living directly in the spotlight. And in that time he’s managed to find himself at the center of at least one significant public controversy (”wardrobe malfunction” anyone?).
So, obviously, he can sympathize with the ongoing plight of current Disney star — and public pariah — Miley Cyrus. So when we caught up with JT backstage at New York’s Roseland Ballroom (where he’d just shared the stage with Madonna), we figured we’d ask him all about Cyrus’ revealing Vanity Fair and Internet photos. It turns out, much like the Material Girl herself, Timberlake thinks the entire issue has been blown out of proportion.
But unlike Maddy, he sees the Cyrus controversy as part of a much larger problem: the public’s rather insatiable desire to tear down anyone and everyone.
“Of course they’re going to pick [on] a wholesome, American, young female [for] the first sign of anything,” Timberlake said. “Unfortunately, there’s a picture of her that’s published with her in just a blanket. … And that’s the photo, that’s the catalyst. But that’s also the age we live in. People want to take a photo, and that’s who you are for a year’s time. We’ve all become victims of that.”
And to that point, he thinks that Cyrus’ young fans aren’t the ones keeping Mileygate going. In fact, they’ve probably already forgotten about the issue entirely. The real problem lies with what those fan’s parents think (as one MTV News intern already pointed out here).
“I don’t think people her age look at [the photo] the same way their parents do,” Timberlake said.
And though he wishes the whole situation would just go away, he joked that he’s cooking up plans for making a quick buck off it. After all, in addition to being a singer, an entertainer and an actor, he’s also a business man.
“I’m gonna make ‘Leave Miley Alone’ T-shirts,” he laughed.
When everything Disney is all the rage, and we live in a world where sex, drama, ruined lives sell magazines, movies, and any other commercial item you can think of, it’s no surprise that something like this completely tasteful photoshoot gets blown out of proportion. 2007 was the year of Miley Cyrus, and 2008 is shaping up to be the year of Miley Cyrus (take 2). So the media has been waiting for her to take a fall. One misstep, one bad word, one rude comment, anything to tarnish her “pretty Disney image.”
The first attempt was the MySpace pictures. Booty shorts, swimsuits, and seductive poses. Throw in the recent “kiss my boyfriend” pictures, and what have you got? An average fifteen-year-old’s MySpace. I would know, I have a sister that age. Does it make it appropriate? Maybe not, but it certainly shouldn’t affect any good role model image she has.
Their next goal was to follow her non-stop. Everyday. While she was shopping. To and from church with her entire family. Remember that couple of weeks? It was reported she had more photogs following her than Britney Spears. I mean, the first reason they did this, surely, was just because, like I said, It’s the year of Miley Cyrus. But what photog would be able to say they weren’t waiting for her to get so annoyed she had a negative reaction that would tarnish her?
And now that those two attempts have failed, it’s time to turn a completely respectable photographer into someone on the verge of taking child porn. I’m sorry, I support Miley through her mini-scandal, but the person who I really feel bad for in this situation is Annie Leibovitz. She did a beautiful photoshoot, and all anyone is focusing on is how inappropriate it is.
What good will my ranting do? None. The entertainment industry will continue to try and destroy the reputation of anyone they can. So what am I going to say?
To Annie Leibovitz: Gorgeous photoshoot. I might actually buy the issue just for the pictures.
To Miley Cyrus: You’ll be back on top in about 3 days. Disney girls have survived actual bigger scandals.
source: MTV.com
Popularity: 3% [?]
» Filed Under Miley Cyrus, VABN topics
20 Responses to “JT says Miley is a “victim””
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May 5th, 2008 at 2:51 pm
Sarah, thank you so much for this post.
You said it!
May 5th, 2008 at 2:54 pm
I agree, they boost you up to tear you down. I personally don’t have a problem with it, and I think the world is just looking for someone to bash. Maybe the photos were to risque for the fifteen year old, let the fifteen year old make that decision. Vanity Fair is a pretty classy magazine and Annie Leibovitz is a good photographer. The people that are squawking about how terrible Miley Cyrus is need to get lives and stop worrying about hers.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:00 pm
thanks Sarah,
I agree but I also think that maybe Miley should have waited a bit (after she no longer is associated with Hannah Montana as much as she is now) before doing this photoshoot? I just can’t get over the fact that no one in her camp ever thought it will get this type of reception. Or maybe they did? Ok, shutting up now - I’m only adding to this issue when it shouldn’t have have been an issue to begin with..
May 5th, 2008 at 3:03 pm
No, Chay, I definitely agree that it may not have been the smartest idea to do the photoshoot. But like you said, it shouldn’t be an issue that she decided to
May 5th, 2008 at 3:04 pm
I wouldn’t call Miley a “victime”. But, the media does tend to blow this stuff out of proportion. I don’t really like the pictures of Miley Cyrus in tha magazine. They’re kind of creepy.
RK
May 5th, 2008 at 3:06 pm
I agree, but at the same time, I do think the whole shoot was a bit inappropriate. Miley shouldn’t be blamed, though, in my opinion. I think Vanity Fair should have known better than to even ask that of her in the first place.
Ah, I don’t know. It’s none of our business and we probably won’t ever know the entire story.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
i agree with all of you. i think it was a little too soon to portray her in a sexualized way like that, but enough already! what shocked me the most was cnn’s coverage of it. as usual, that lame excuse for a “news” station gave that story the same importance as a major world crisis.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
And, then there’s Bill O’Reilly. Of course, he’s going to exploit it.
RK
May 5th, 2008 at 3:18 pm
i do agree too!!
i mean it’s so unbelivable that the entertainment industry destroys everyone!!i personaly don’t think the pics are that bad…it’s not more than wearing a bikini on the beach,is it!?
but she really should have wait until she’s out of the hannah montana image cuz i think all the little kids are now really confused because everyone is talkin abotu a *nude-photoscandal* even though she isn’t nude!!however…let’s wait what happens next!!
by the way does miley have a myspace?cuz you wrote about it!!
xxx
May 5th, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Thea, I have heard that she has a personal MySpace, but I do not actually know for sure. I was just referencing that is the type of things most 15 yos have on their MySpaces.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:41 pm
I’m thinking more of the fact that she’s still young and it’s scary how people take advantage of that, although, we don’t know the whole story here, and I don’t think that it’s anything really wrong with the pictures, I’ve only seen the pictures quickly but I dunno, it might be that these kind of things doesn’t bother me, because I’m always more interested in a persons more positive side and try to support those that ends up on the bad side of life ratter then tearing them down, especially when I don’t know what would make them do it.
I did see an interview with Daniel Radcliffe on Extra from the set of HBP, and he told the interviewer (whom by the way was the same guy that interviewed Z and V in Palm Springs) what he thought is the difference between kid actor/actresses in the us and in the rest if the world (uk in this case), and he said that in the uk, their getting known as being kids first and actor/actresses later (meaning that it’s after all just a job, the same way some kids/teens work extra after school etc.), while in the us, they get known for being actor/actresses first and kids later, meaning that what kids do when their not filming get way more attention in the us then what it does in other places because people think that…well, I dunno what they think but I think that JT also had a point, that it’s the parents that think more about this then the kids, and their young and still learning, now I’m not saying that this is with all people, but I’m mostly talking about the media and peoples response and reaction to it, media is extremely powerful and can really brainwash you if you’re not careful.
May 5th, 2008 at 3:52 pm
I don’t care much for her.
I think she’s ugly anyways.
May 5th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
The Vanity fair topless under the bed sheet idea was a very stupid Idea and can’t believe her parents and management were ok with her taking that type of photo considering she is only 15 years old. Her problem is that she seems to be in too much of a hurry to grow up and this leads to situations like this.
I Really don’t care what she does in her private life but this is not the first time pictures of her acting suggestively towards the camera and being half dressed have leaked And that is the issue. She should have learnt from the other times not to put her private pictures on myspace. This has happened to her a number of times within the last 6 months, she should stop taking those type of pictures or just stop putting them on the internet for everyone to see, its that simple. Unless this is a deliberate attempt to get more attention and show she is not so innocent. I just think she should be smarter about her choices and should not post pictures that will have negative connotations on her considering she is Not a normal 15 year old and she does have an unhealthy influence over pre teen girls who try to copy everything she does. And I think as long as she remains on the Disney channel and talks about how she is such a good role model, then she should be careful about what profession photoshoots she takes in the future. I think there was a slight overreaction but I do think that Miley only issued her apology because of the huge negative reaction the photos got, She and Her people saw the pictures at the shoot ( That how Annie works, she shoots with a digital camera.) And Miley loved them as she was quoted in the magazine saying they were ‘not skanky’. But the reaction they got was not something they were expecting But I think she will be fine in the long run .
May 5th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
The media jumps at every opportunity to bash a Disney kid. Having said that, I think Myley’s parents don’t have their heads on straight. She’s only 15 and too young to make certain decision.
May 5th, 2008 at 6:06 pm
BTW, has everyone requested Sneakernight today?
May 5th, 2008 at 6:09 pm
I do get why this is getting so much attention and its hard for of to goose sides. I mean im kinda like in the middle and I agree with what sarah said but I also do agree with what suzy said.
May 5th, 2008 at 7:57 pm
i don’t understand why they do this
disney is respectable for a reason, and just the fact that FORMER disney stars have thrown their lives away to stupid things doesn’t mean the current ones are going to as well.
people should just stop waiting for others to make mistakes and if/when they do, learn from it, don’t criticize it.
May 5th, 2008 at 10:35 pm
what bugs me a lot is that they are making such a big deal about this situation.
Like I was just watching ET, and they have Hilary Clinton, and Obama’s wife talk about the situation!
May 5th, 2008 at 11:27 pm
WOW! Really, Coryy?
It seems like this has become even bigger than what our Vanessa dealt with.
I really hope Miley is ok. Vanessa is such a strong girl! I’m so proud of these girls.
May 6th, 2008 at 3:35 pm
No one ‘famous’ really defended Vanessa like this…