Miley Cyrus has responded to the controversy surrounding a photo that some have said is a racially offensive mocking of Asians.
A photo surfaced online this week showing Miley with a group of friends, including boyfriend Justin Gaston, slanting their eyes and squinting at the camera – but the teen queen calls the uproar “something out of nothing.”
“In NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity!” she wrote on her blog on her official fan site. “I was simply making a goofy face When did that become newsworthy? It seems someone is trying to make something out of nothing to me. If that would of [sic] been anyone else, it would of been overlooked! I definitely feel like the press is trying to make me out as the new ‘BAD GIRL’!”
In fact, Miley feels like a fellow pop star’s comeback is to blame for the media scrutiny.
“I feel like now that Britney [Spears] is back on top of her game again, they need someone to pick on! Lucky me! haha Anyway, I just wanted to let you guys know what is on my heart. You guys know me and have been by my side every step of the way!” she continued.
The Disney star also said she would like the public to pay attention to her career and not her private life.
“I really wish everyone would stop focusing on my personal life and get back to focusing on what I love! Music and Acting!” she added. “Hopefully, I will be touring again this fall! Yayy! =] It will be a nice change to be back out on the road again!” Cyrus goes on, before signing off “bexoxo blessings…Miley”
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When the photo surfaced on Monday, OCA, an Asian Pacific American organization, issued a statement about the photo, saying, “Not only has Miley Cyrus and the other individuals in the photograph encouraged and legitimized the taunting and mocking of people of Asian descent, she has also insulted her many Asian Pacific American fans.”
Following Miley’s response on Thursday, a rep for OCA told AccessHollywood.com, “We do not feel this is an adequate response or apology to our statement, and we are disappointed that she does not understand that what she perceived as a ‘goofy face’ has never been used as a term of endearment for Asian Pacific Americans. It is not a gesture someone who is looked up to as a role model should use.”
This isn’t the first photo controversy for Miley. In December 2007, the pop star was upset after photos of her and her friends goofing around at a sleepover were leaked online. In April 2008, several photos were posted online showing a girl, which appeared to be Miley, tugging at her white tank top to reveal a green bra, while another photo showed the girl’s bare midriff while draped over a young male.
And later that month, Miley’s infamous Vanity Fair photo scandal erupted after Annie Leibovitz’s shots of the 15-year-old “Hannah Montana” star emerged, showing the teenager covered by only a blanket.
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