I’ve been trying to wrap my head around something for several days. The 2009 Teen Choice Awards were taped on Sunday night and they aired on Monday. However, this is the Internet world with YouTube and Twitter and Flickr, and so long before the show aired I had heard that Miley Cyrus did a pole dance during her performance.
I was confused when I heard this. Miley has made some mistakes in her short career but overall she’s a pretty good girl, an average teenager, and at least one of her parents (usually both) are at all her shows to keep her head on straight. I thought that certainly someone was exaggerating something innocent. You know, like maybe Miley had grabbed a support pole as she skipped past and lost her balance or… something?
Well, no.
No, Miley wore short-shorts, high heeled boots, and danced on top of an ice cream truck with a POLE.
I need to state for the record that I am not now, nor have I ever been a prude. Not even close. And I will admit that her routine was tame. It wasn’t a re-enactment of Showgirls with Miley twirling upside down on a pole, legs spread in the air or anything. That being said, she is SIXTEEN YEARS OLD. She is an underage teenage girl. On top of that, she’s an underage teenage girl associated with Disney and a role model to very young girls.
If Miley wants to break free from that, I don’t blame her, I get it. But she needs to remove herself from the whole Hannah Montana phenomenon first. When you have fans as young as four or five years old, gyrating – even for a moment – along a pole in an itty bitty outfit and hooker heel boots is inappropriate. I’m so glad my kids were in bed, so I would have to explain that no, they can’t dance like that on the poles that hold up the play structures at the park because it’s (as I said) INAPPROPRIATE.
The thing is, I can’t really blame Miley herself. She’s gotten herself into so much trouble before that you’d think she’d learn by now (hello, stop taking half-naked pictures of yourself and maybe avoid racial slurs that you think are funny) but she’s still 16 years old. She probably thought she was being cool. I remember being 16, and I probably would have thought so too.
But did I mention that her parents are at pretty much every performance she does? Also, her manager is HER MOTHER. Her mother approved that routine? Seriously? Well apparently, because Billy Ray and Tish stood up and applauded their little girl up there, proud as all hell. Makes you think they just really like the money Miley brings in with her massive empire of products. Well, you know who else liked the money her daughter was pulling in? Dinah Lohan. Have you seen what’s happened to Lindsay Lohan over the years?
The truth is I think the Jonas Brothers SUCK. I’ve admittedly never heard any of their recorded albums, I just know that every time I hear them live on some awards show I can’t get past the fact that they’re constantly out of tune. But you know what? I’ll get their albums and some posters and see what Hayley thinks of them because three boys with purity rings are better role models than a pole-dancing teenager.
Dude, just say no.
I really have to agree 100%… and this puts me in a bit of a dilemma. I actually bought tickets to the Miley Cyrus concert in Portland as a huge surprise for Caity’s birthday and now I’m a bit worried about whether the show will be a reenactment of the Teen Choice Awards. Not exactly appropriate viewing for an almost 10 year old. It’s the first show on the new tour too, so who knows what will happen.
I agree with you – Not as much with the pole dancing – because it was pretty tame and not even terribly suggestive. But, dude – the shorts. They are closer to underwear. I wouldn’t let my 16 year old daughter outside wearing those. And all the women had them on. I’m not okay with the dress code. (and I’m hoping that it was just the quality of the video – because it sounded horrible.) the boots were cute – BUT NOT WHILE WEARING SHORTS! She looked like a hooker. (and I’m not a prude either – but you are right – she is a role model for little girls.)
One reason I always appreciated Britney is that she “always” emphasized that she was NOT a role model.
Too many celebrities are happy as a clam pretending to be role models … then everyone is shocked when their true life style comes out and it is less than pure as the driven snow.
Seems like when Hudgens and Cyrus first started doing the “pin-up” bit their status as role models for little girls should have been immediately revoked by their parents. For that matter, why ARE they still considered role models? Strange.
I have never been so happy to have a boy! I really haven’t listened to the Jo Bros either but I love that Nick Jonas is doing ads for diabetes testing meters. As a diabetic I love that he is showing his fans you can have a disease and still be successful.
Not to mention… PUT SOME CLOTHES ON!! On all of those girls. And quit with the gyrating. It’s no wonder that little girls are growing up too fast when those are the images they see all around them.
I agree 100%. My 12yo daughter was the one who brought the news story to my attention, asking me, “Why would she do that, Mom?” I am so glad that Natalie sees how inappropriate it is.
I have seen comments on other posts about this topic that state, “Well, she’s got to do something to be taken seriously as an artist apart from Disney.” Why is it that young women have to over-sexualize themselves in order to be taken seriously? Why not have some self-respect instead.
I just watched the performance. Seemed pretty innocent to me. Mind you I STILL have to put in a new sound card so I only got the visual.
I don’t have kids. I have a niece who was very influenced by Britney Spears and has turned out to be, to put it nicely, not that innocent. It is such a shame because she is more focused on teasing the boys and dressing the part than anything else in life. I fear for her. I am frightened for anyone raising girls in this generation and always impressed when I hear/see/read that there are parents out there that care enough to protect their children from such influences.
My niece had asked for a Miley cd….I accidentally brought Taylor Swift, whom she now loves, as a “mistake”….looks like a better and better call on my part!