Miley Cyrus Tries To Do Some Damage Control
Miley Cyrus was in attendance on Day 3 of the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards GRAMMY Gift Lounge Saturday and managed to pose for a very curious photo with a bunch of Asian people who were also in attendance at the gift lounge suite at the same time:
I have to say that I find this photo very suspect … not all of you may agree with me but it sure does seem as if Miley wanted to make sure that she was photographed smiling with a group of Asian people to show that she is not racist and doesn’t always engage in mocking behavior. Tho, I wonder why she didn’t think it was appropriate for her to make her “goofy faces” while posing with these particular people. It seems to me that if her behavior is so innocent, then she would have no problem making the same “goofy faces” with these people like she did with her friends in that controversial other photo that came out last week. I am still offended that first, she and her friends would engage in such demeaning behavior and second, that she failed to step up and apologize for that behavior. Again, I personally find this photo very suspect … do you?
[Photo credit: Wireimage]
Tags: Miley Cyrus, The GRAMMY Gift Lounge
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February 9th, 2009 at 11:44 am
She’s utterly transparent, manipulative and a total fraud.
She should be ashamed of herself.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:46 am
Yup! shes a hater
February 9th, 2009 at 11:48 am
OMG she didn’t apologize? That STEP #1 in damage control – aLwAyS! Whaddamissdumbass! What context was this photo released in?
February 9th, 2009 at 11:49 am
HILARIOUS! Again, does this “girl” have a publicist or not? If so, they should be fired, If not, get one!
February 9th, 2009 at 11:51 am
While what she did was offensive, we all must realize that she is only 16. How many rude/offensive things did you do when you were that young? We all look back and regret some of our actions. While I’m not condoning what she did I would like to point out that NONE of us were perfect at 16.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:51 am
i think its just wayyy to big of a deal. she is 16 and i doubt she was trying to make a stab at the entire Asian race. i think the fact that its being perpetuated is just as shameful.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:51 am
VV I agree.
She can take as many pictures with Asians and Asian Americans as she wants. It’s like the “I have black friends so I can’t possibly be racist or have racist opinions” excuse.
She should simply apologize for offending anyone and admit that what she did was in poor taste. It’s really that simple.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:53 am
urgh, what you do with strangers is different from what you do with friends don’t try and play dumb. I can’t believe this is the fourth post on this subject.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:54 am
and she did apologize to the people that were offended by the picture, she just didn’t think that it was a big deal.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:55 am
everything got taken way over the top….give the girl a break.she is just 16….and she will learn from their actions…but goodness….why is everybody always getting so offended all the time…just think of the best of people….that should sort everything out.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:56 am
I’ve been reading all about this since it came out last week and I honestly believe you’re all over-reacting. Yes, she made a bad judgement, but I do think those photos were just mucking around. Kids do that and don’t think about the consequences. She apparently isn’t just very smart. The photos are up their with Prince Harry’s faux pas with the Swastika band on his arm a few years ago.
Anyway it’s all irrelevant. Over 200 people have lost their lives in the Australian bushfires….whole towns have been demolished and thousands have lost their homes. This is a real tragedy folks, not some little teenager pulling faces.
February 9th, 2009 at 11:57 am
ugh Trent why in the (&()*^$ are you still talking about this!?
February 9th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Her handlers should have just said she’s young, a tad unaware and a pinch ignorant, and we’re working on smartening her up. Having her take pics with a group of Asians after her little “funny” to show how accepting she is reeks of damage control.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
@ugh
I don’t think anyone is saying she is racist, but that picture was in poor taste. The only thing perpetuated in this whole situation is the stereotyping of people of Asian descent. Acting like it wasn’t a big deal and making the excuse that she is only 16 and didn’t know any better is the problem. If she is old enough to drive a car and pose semi-nude for Vanity Fair, she should be old enough to know what she did, though taken out of context, was considered offensive to millions of people and she should offer an apology, not excuses and lame comparisons to Britney Spears.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:01 pm
I’m done with this. I didn’t like her before, I don’t like her now, and I’m *still* waiting for someone to tell me why she’s famous. All she’s good for is controversial pics leaked on the internet. Next.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:05 pm
She’s a kid. Kids make faces.
People are too easily offended. Trent, there is no reason for you to be offended as you aren’t even Asian. Yeesh.
The real problem is that people are way too easily offended and the world is trying to coddle them by becoming scary PC. It’s ridiculous.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:09 pm
I’m offended that they are all making “white” faces. Good grief. It’s all ridiculous that anyone would be offended over the (naive) actions of someone else. Guess what? You’re only offended if YOU want to be offended about it.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:14 pm
The fact that she deliberately posed with a bunch of Asian people means that she’s feeling guilty about the other photo so she’s “discreetly” trying to make up for it.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:18 pm
@Zelda
How is she supposed to learn if we “give her a break”? Obviously her parents aren’t teaching her proper behavior. Focusing on the good in people when they do something stupid or wrong is naive.
@debho
I know there are tons of more pressing issues in the world than Miley’s stupidity, but this is a site about celebrities. Trent posts pictures of Posh walking down the street, not Australian bushfires. This is a little thing compared to the tragedies going on in the world, but that doesn’t mean we can or should ignore bad behavior, especially when it dredges up racial stereotypes that people have been fighting in this country for years.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:22 pm
@Srsly? and others — I absolutely can be offended by the blatant mocking of other people, even if I do not belong to the group of people being mocked. In my estimation, the real problem isn’t too much PCness, it’s how easy people tend to laugh off or disregard the mistreatment of other people. To say, “she is only 16″ is not enough. And for the record, Miley did not apologize for her behavior, she said she was “sorry” that people misunderstood her “goofy faces”.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Why should “we” be teaching her. she did something stupid and addressed it. In a normal world we would move on. It doesn’t matter what “we” think her parents did (for all we know they did do something), or what “we” think she or they should do, chastising a sixteen year old and blasting her for being a racist when based on that picture she is no such thing, over and over again is petty.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I know this is a site for celebrities and I’ve been coming here for years, but I still think this whole story has gone overboard. I hate racism as much as the next person, but seriously? people also need to toughen up and realise that not everything is done maliciously. I guess you’ve never done anything silly in your life when you were younger that you regret now huh. You’ve always been correct and not much fun.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:25 pm
@ Trent. she said she was sorry they misunderstood, why should she apologize if she didn’t think she was wrong. I wouldn’t want to apologize to the same people who have since said hateful things about her.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
I can’t stand her…period….not because i’m Asian….but because I’m human…
February 9th, 2009 at 12:26 pm
Oh and I know this doesn’t interest you, but we did lose a “celebrity” in the bushfires. A well respected newsreader and his wife were incinerated in their homes with their arms around each other.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:28 pm
@babybunny
Please explain to me what a “white face” is. And while you are doing that, please remind me of the racism white people in this country have had to endure. Immigrants in the 1800s don’t count as they were successfully able to assimilate into the rest of the white populace. It seems like you are the naive one.
Trent I applaud you for sticking with this story. This site is about celebrities and for some reason she is a celebrity. Would people rather watch her walk out of church with Justin and her family wearing matching wifebeaters? That’s what they’d normally be getting on here.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:31 pm
@ trent, i completely agree with you.
She’s a damn idiot. Saying she’s just a kid isn’t an excuse… because if she wanted to be treated like a kid, she wouldn’t be posing half naked (granted i didn’t really see anything wrong with that other than the fact she’s hideous, but if she wanted to be treated like a ‘kid’ she wouldn’t have done that), AND she wouldn’t be hanging out with a 22 wannabe famous model.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
@debho — I don’t think anyone is saying that they are perfect but the fact that other people do something bad doesn’t mean that it should be excused in cases like this. Like it or not, Miley Cyrus is looked up to by millions of young children who may look to her as a role model. I cannot excuse offensive behavior like this merely because of her age or because others may have engaged in the same behavior.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:32 pm
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February 9th, 2009 at 12:42 pm
@debho
I have said in an earlier post that I have made those same faces, but I was in elementary school. I’m not sure what your idea of fun is, but when I turned 16, “fun” did not mean pulling stereotypical faces for the camera. I went to the mall, but that’s just me. And really how much fun can a 16 year old have in the burbs?
I don’t think what she and her friends did had any malicious intent at all and I have never purported to being correct at all times. Quite the contrary. I do however think she should realize how some people, even some of her fans, may find what she did offensive and hurtful and apologize for it. No matter what the context, she is a public figure and the pictures got out.
“I am sorry if I have hurt or offended anyone’s feelings.” It’s not hard to say and shouldn’t be hard to feel sincerely. I am personally sick of Miley Cyrus myself, but her actions opened up a dialogue that maybe needed to be had. I don’t think people are aware of or realize the history of racism Asian Americans have in this country. So it is really some the responses to this issue that I have problems with. Just as I have an issue with people who think dressing up like a klan member or Prince Harry in his ludicrous nazi costume is “not a big deal.”
February 9th, 2009 at 12:45 pm
@Grace – Obviously, my sarcasm was undetected. My point is, comments, pictures, actions are what you make them to be.
If my friends decided to dress up or make a face to “mock” my ethnicity, would it bother me? No. Would it make them racist? No. I know them, and their hearts. Maybe to someone looking to be offended it would be offensive.
I don’t care for Miley, but she was right to apologize for how other people portrayed a private picture that was taken with her friends. I am not going to judge her racist because that isn’t my place.
February 9th, 2009 at 12:46 pm
I don’t think it’s suspect at all. Look, the dude she was with in those pics is obviously a friend. She was joking around and he didn’t look very offended to me. He didn’t refuse to pose with them in the phot. He’s smiling just like everyone else. Friends can pick on friends and give them a hard time. Not a big deal.
So she didn’t make the goofy face in this pic. Duh. I wouldn’t pick on or give someone a hard time if I didn’t know them as I’m sure she didn’t know these people.
Everyone needs to stop making a huge thing out of this. Seriously. It’s crazy.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:18 pm
@ babybunny
Sometimes that is true, but the point I was making in my response is people of Asian descent in this country have a history of racism here that white people, blonde people, overweight people or who ever you want to make fun of don’t have. Stereotypes of Asian Americans in this country like the Miley picture used to be malicious and some still are.
The argument is not whether Miley is racist or not. I don’t know her, but I doubt these pictures were malicious, but they were racist, no matter what the context. I also don’t think Trent, myself, or the millions of other people who were offended by this photo were “looking” to be offended. I don’t scour the internet or turn on my television looking for things to offend my senses. Like I said, it’s a gut thing. I know when I see something wrong. And to me and many others, that picture was wrong. BUT what is wrong to me isn’t wrong to you. It’s relative, I guess and that is where people are knocking heads on this issue.
I saw that picture and had a gut reaction, because I am familiar with Asian stereotypes and the mass of Asian women and some men going under the knife to make their eyes more “westernized.” All it takes is a little googling to understand why some people would take offense. I cannot unlearn what I know to shrug it off as not a big deal.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:36 pm
I have been over this Miley thing since it started. There are bigger things going on in the world then Miley making a joking face. Everyone has made a mocking face at one time or another. Anyone saying otherwise is lying. She is just a teenager having fun. She shouldn’t be held to a higher standard because she is in the public. She is 16.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:41 pm
i don’t really care about miley but i think people are taking this WAYYY to far.
wasn’t that a PERSONAL photo? people can do whatever they want in it.
and since the korean kid had his eyes wide open, why aren’t people bitching about him being racist? huh?
and trent, what’s with you being so high and mighty lately with all the judging of everyone.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
You actually think that a bunch of teenagers joking around is demeaning behavior? Wow, I can only imagine the stuck up prick you were at 16. Probably never did anything wrong. You should get out more and see some of the things 16 year olds can do, they are a lot worse than a picture that was never meant to be taken seriously.
And how about the Asian kid in that picture? He had his eyes wide open! He’s making fun of Caucasian people, what a racist! See how dumb that looks? Almost as stupid as this whole ordeal with Miley. Get over it.
February 9th, 2009 at 1:58 pm
@John-totally agree about the high and mightyness. It’s been turning me off to this blog big time the last few months.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:05 pm
Have we heard from her friends…who she supposedly was mocking with her “goofy face”? Have they demanded an apology? Have they said they were offended? If not then get off your high horse who are you to be demanding apologies from people…YOUR NOBODY!
February 9th, 2009 at 2:08 pm
hahah I think the pic could have been avoided, I mean, it is so obvious what she is trying to do. I don’t care much for the girl, I think she is funny and all but don’t give a sh** about her, but I do think that getting offended because of a stupid gesture she made is a little too much. I wouldn’t be offended if I were oriental, it’s kids play she is only 16 years old! Can you people remember what it was like to be 16? I was a mess. And I still call my friends names, I still make stupid faces and say stupid things when I’m joking around. Geez… too judgemental.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
@Taylor — we’ve heard from some members of the Asian community who have been offended by her “goofy face” and have demanded an apology.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:18 pm
@John — I’m not judging, I’m merely expressing my opinions as I always have. It’s not about being “high and mighty”, it’s about right and wrong … which, sadly, isn’t evident to everyone.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:19 pm
being asian myself, i was offended by miley’s picture. none of my friends make “goofy faces” like that. and in this photo it seems like she is purposly being posed with asians not doing her “goofy face”. and i just plain hate her
February 9th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I don’t get the hype about her – she is just a hyperactive girl who is loads and loads richer than us but I am still not sure why..it’s annoying. Who else thought she’s hard to look at when she sings? That’s what I thought when she sang next to Taylor yesterday. She seems TOO sure of herself- which I understand it’s important to be confident and all but she seems borderline arrogant really.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
But who are they to demand an apology. Just because you and them think she should doesn’t mean that is what should happen. Its crazy to think that you’re in the right so she must do what you think is the right thing. That’s totally judging someone.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
@Hannah — are you, like, 8 years old? you sound like an idiot … which I guess is “totally judging someone”. Don’t demand an apology, you’re just an idiot. The end. Thanks.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
“it’s about right and wrong … which, sadly, isn’t evident to everyone”
too much. there are more important things than miley cyrus’ face and greater injustices in the world, why not blog about those? really, it’s MILEY freaking CYRUS. over it. (and this is coming from a visible minority surrounded by sometimes ignorant white people, so don’t assume that everyone who isn’t outraged doesn’t care.)
February 9th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
ha.
she’ll always be a stupid stupid wannabe bitch to me.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:36 pm
Trent…get over it! Come on! You’ve written like 5 post about this! She didn’t make the face again because the first time she was having fun with a FRIEND, whether it was wrong or not, it was with her friends! I’m sick of this subject.
February 9th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
@Grace – I understand where you are coming from now. I had no idea that people actually under went surgery to “westernize” their eyes. That saddens me because I wish everyone to love the skin they are in so to speak. I doubt Miley knows as well. I still think that it was a private photo taken way overboard though. ;(
February 9th, 2009 at 2:40 pm
So I suppose the question of the day is: What 16 year old hasn’t done stupid things?
How many teenagers even know/care/understand what it is to be racist? It’s unfortunate that for all the dumb things teenagers do these days it’s the “famous” ones that take the slack purely because they are “role models.” Plus, I agree with the others about the one Asian guy. Geeze how insensitive of him!! Being one sided on what is clearly a two way street is tiring and bloody ignorant. I feel dirty for even getting involved in this but I tend to digress.
Thus, continuing, people who were offended, take a chill pill and realize that: “everyone’s a little bit racist” (Avenue Q).
And for good measure I must continue.
Yes, children who look up to her but please, ten years ago when I was 14 the only persons I looked up to were my friends and my grandma. And if I did anything wrong the only people with the power to educate me or discipline me were the authority figures in my life. It’s not OUR place to be JUDGING or CONDONING the teenagers in the photos behavior (because please, it wasn’t just her). That’s the parents responsibility. So get a latte, read a James Joyce novel, and leave all this celebrity shyte alone.
If you want to rant about what offends you- get off your soap box and create a personal blog. I don’t want to be reading about how Miley makes you feel. Bah. First Perez getting all high horse and now this…
Gotta take a break from the blog…
February 9th, 2009 at 2:46 pm
This is crazy. The post about me being 8 and an idiot proves how hypocritical people are. Its okay to insult people on purpose but not accidentally. What a fun site this is. And why would I ask for an apology I don’t care who you are or what you think of me.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
I am Asian, and i found extremely offensive what she did. It’s stupid mockery and i suffered when i was kid of all those kids making “goofy” faces at me. Of course they found that funny but i didnt find that funny at all because i know those “goofy” faces were for me. Yes she 16 and so? she is mature enough to earn that much money, pose half naked, date a 20 something to get publicity… so i am sure she is mature enough to understand that it’s not funny to mock Asian people. its way to easy to just say “oh give her a break, everyone did that”, that’s the exact problem. people dont understand how it can be hurtful until being Asian. So for all those people who think it’s not a big deal to make “goofy” faces, just one thing, you arent Asian so you would never be able to understand. I hope she will properly apologize cos her pathethic semi apology is almost as offensive as the picture.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:02 pm
@TH — Welcome to my personal blog :)
February 9th, 2009 at 3:25 pm
I made “goofy” faces like her but I was around 7 years old. 16 is a good age to realize offensive actions and to take responsibilty and apologize because like it or not you are a role model to young girls Miley.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:33 pm
Just because she is young and was with her friends doesn’t make it ok. And just because your not offended doesn’t mean other people aren’t. If your sick of reading about her then just move on.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:37 pm
Whoa this is getting kinda heated. I do agree that what Miley and friends did was wrong. Personally I have never heard a Miley Cyrus song or seen her in anything besides this blog…but I think it is a little ridiculous to keep talking about it. She is so not worth it.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:41 pm
she should take responsibility for what she did, then we can move on
February 9th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
ahahaha TH. don’t you feel smart now.
February 9th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
@trent So, does everyone get an apology every time someone is offended? She was with her friends…the picture was probably not meant for public release. All this faux outrage over a silly picture…give me a break. Can I go through your photo album…to make sure there are no pictures in it that would offend me…and if there are will you apologize to me?
February 9th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
@Taylor — when a public figure offends, then yes there should be an apology every time. I’m not sure what “faux outrage” you’re referring to but, speaking for myself, the offense to me is not “faux”, it’s real. At least she apologized, that is all that matters. http://pinkisthenewblog.com/home/2009/02/miley-cyrus-finally-apologizes-for-her-offensive-photo/
February 9th, 2009 at 7:11 pm
This is a teenage girl. Think about what you were like when you were her age and the way you acted with your friends before you judge her. Personally, I was a stubborn jerk as a teenager. I think that she handles herself remarkably well considering her age.
February 9th, 2009 at 7:30 pm
OK, So here’s this 16 year old Disney and Daddy manufactured money making machine. She’s not famous because of talent, etiquette or sensitivity. She’s famous because she has been Disney Marketed with Disney Dollars. C’mon people, get real – there’s no story here. The story merely serves to prolong her already spent 15 minutes of fame…
February 9th, 2009 at 8:02 pm
her face is sooooo funny in that photo. Obviously an uncomfortable, guilty, moment for her. Not as natural as her “goofy face” photo with her friends, huh? Very suspect, Trent.
February 9th, 2009 at 8:46 pm
Looks like she has her eyes open as wide as possible in that pic!
February 9th, 2009 at 9:55 pm
Another pathetic article. Now she can’t take pictures with Asians? She has Asian friends! Man people need to chill….just because your life isn’t what you want it to be doesn’t give you the right to go around picking on a 16 year old girl. She was having fun with her friends….like no one here ever made goofy pictures. Give me a break. Anyone who takes offense to this is really sad. Pathetic actually.
February 9th, 2009 at 10:39 pm
This article is the most pathetic thing I’ve ever seen. I had a Vietnamese friend in high school and I used to call him gook and he would make fun of me being a fat white guy. If someone recorded me saying that and put it on the internet out of context people would say I was a racist. But things go on between friends. They bust each others balls and it’s no big deal. That picture wasn’t intended for the public. If there is any scandal here it’s that people are violating the privacy of a 16 year old girl. I’m so sick of this political correctness BS.
February 10th, 2009 at 3:18 am
i agree with Lynn.she does look like she’s trying to make her eyes pop out of her head in an attempt to make her eyes bigger.
February 10th, 2009 at 4:25 am
Damn, why did she make goofy faces with her friends? Simple, because she was with HER FRIENDS. People she can get along with, people she share laughter and jokes with. People who can poke fun at each other without being offended.
Why didn’t she make “goofy faces” with this one? Cos these people are not the ones she hangs out regularly with! If she made a “goofy face” here, now THAT would be mocking! I’m Asian, I don’t like Miley Cyrus one bit, but I think it’s time to get over it. The girl is 16. She is a young lady, she is HUMAN. Let her be. And I totally agree with Troy.
February 10th, 2009 at 10:03 am
who cares if she made some sort of asian face. its not going to affect your life or mine. you people should be ashamed of yourself for being so judgmental.
February 10th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
Oh please. Can we just move on already? This is so not news and I’m so sick of the self-righteous finger wagging.
February 11th, 2009 at 3:48 am
Hm… racism. Really, I personally did not see why Miley’s pic was so bad. I don’t really like her, but this… yeah. I definitely agree with what others said earlier – this picture was NOT for public release. I too have friends of other ethnicities and I know they wouldn’t mind a pic like this. Why? Because they know it’s not MEANT to be racist. I really really doubt the Asian guy in the original pic looked at the result, started crying and felt all offended. Seriously. I think he probably just laughed about it, because they’re FRIENDS.
My best friend is Asian and yeah, I crack a joke about that from time to time but I get just as much in return for being white and neither of us minds because we know we love each other to death anyway. Racism is not just making offensive comments about other ethnicities, it’s also simply about making a big deal out of skin colour. And that goes both ways. You want the opposite of racism? Don’t try exaggerated political correctness – try tolerance and being laid-back and NOT NOTICING skin colour. Seriously. Making this big a fuss over this issue is just as much racism as Miley’s supposed ‘offence’, because all it is is calling attention to differences again. Stop it.
.
(Sorry for the long comment, I just felt I needed to say this.)