Miley Cyrus: Embarrassed By Vanity Fair Photo Spread

Posted by Jacci Lewis Categories: Kids, Music, ABC, Cable, Editorial, Gossip, News

Tween idol and star of Disney’s juggernaut Hannah Montana says she is embarrassed by photos taken for the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair.

In a statement issued Sunday through her publicist 15-year-old Miley Cyrus said, “I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about.”

The spread, shot by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz, included the above photo of a natural looking Cyrus seemingly naked save for a silky sheet. Cyrus’ statement said she thought the photo shoot was supposed to be artistic but after seeing the photos and reading the accompanying story featuring Miley and her father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus, she feels “embarrassed”. 

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Disney is not mincing words about the photos either. A network statement given to the Associated Press says, “Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines.”

For its part, Vanity Fair defends the shoot. Magazine officials told Entertainment Tonight that Miley Cyrus’ parents were on the set all day and that everyone who saw the most controversial photo immediately after it was taken thought it was a “beautiful and natural portrait of Miley.” (Frankly, I was more disturbed by the one of her draped over Billy Ray Cyrus’ groin area. I know it is art and that they are father and daughter, but can I just say ick.)

Miley Cyrus has been no stranger to this type of controversy. Several sexually suggestive pictures of the star have popped up all over the internet in recent weeks. One of them shows Cyrus coyly pulling a top away to reveal the top of her bra. For her part, Cyrus has called those photos “silly and inappropriate”. (You can read her apology here.)  All have been G-rated by wild west Internet standards of course but not exactly the best image of one of Disney’s most important and lucrative stars. Cyrus’ “Best of Both Worlds” tour sold out arenas. Her concert film brought in a staggering $31.3 million in its opening weekend alone.

Of this latest photo controversy Cyrus says she’ll get through it with the help of her family and her Christian faith (and a bit of spin doctoring from Disney, no doubt).

(You can find more stories about Miley and her photos here.)