The Manipulation of Miley

I’m starting to think there should be a class for celebrities.

But not just for the celebrities, for their families as well. Lessons like what not to say and how not to leave your 15-year-old daughter alone with a world-renowned photographer who likes to take “artistic” shots of celebrities…

Now, before I get into this whole Miley Cyrus scandal debate, let me just say for the record that I think everyone is taking this a little too far. All the religious and parenting groups that are asking for a “Hannah Montana” merchandise burning and the business reporters warning that Disney’s stock will plummet just need to chill out. It’s honestly not that big of a deal. A 15-year-old girl made a mistake. Period.

Granted, she’s a 15-year-old with a billion dollar empire, but she’s still entitled to make mistakes, isn’t she?

If you’ve been living in a hole for the past day and a half, this month’s issue of “Vanity Fair” (out next week) features a photo of Miley which makes her appear topless. Miley posed for the photo and then after she saw it on the Internet issued an apology to her fans saying she was embarrassed by the picture. Disney accused “VF” of manipulating Miley to sell magazines, while the magazine argued that the shot was artistic and Miley was excited about it.

So what happened here? Miley actually tells us herself in the accompanying “VF” article. She says, “And you can’t say no to Annie. She’s so cute. She gets this puppy-dog look and you’re like, O.K.”

So the photographer-to-the-stars, Annie Liebovitz wants to do an artistic photo of Miley—just as she’s done with all of the most famous celebrities in the world—and a 15-year-old girl is going to say no? Of course not! Someone should have been there to fight for her…

Which leads me to my earlier comment. “VF” argues that Miley’s parents were on the set and even show a video on their website of the shoot. But there is no video of the photo in question and sources have told “People” that Billy Ray and Tish left the shoot before that final picture was taken, leaving Miley’s grandmother and teacher behind. According to “People,” Liebovitz convinced the grandmother and teacher the shot would be “beautiful and artistic” and so it was taken.

No offense to the grandmother or teacher, but Miley’s parents should have been there to look out for her. And where was a Disney rep? “VF” has built its reputation on getting celebrities to say or do things that create controversy (the “Desperate Housewives” photo shoot, anyone?). If Disney was so concerned about its star, why didn’t it have someone there to watch over her?
Disney says that Miley was manipulated and I actually agree. But I don’t believe she was manipulated by Liebovitz. She’s a photographer and I think she was genuinely looking for the perfect artistic shot. But you better believe that “Vanity Fair” saw dollar signs when they saw the picture. This issue—which doesn’t even have Miley on the cover, by the way—has gotten more buzz than a whole year’s worth of the magazine.

Liebovitz has since apologized—not for taking the picture—but for the fact that it has been “misconstrued.” She believes it to be “simple” and “beautiful.” With an older celebrity, I might agree with her. But with a 15-year-old girl? No way.

But in all honesty, I’m actually a little more disturbed by the pictures of Miley with her dad. I know I wouldn’t pose for a picture with my dad that way…

The bottom line here is that Miley and her family have learned some very valuable lessons. I just hope she doesn’t end up paying a steep price for what she’s learned…

You can see the pictures and read the accompanying article here. Then be sure to weigh in on what you think about the controversy…