Miley Cyrus Gives VMAs Backlash, And Robin Thicke’s Mom, Two Fingers
Miley Cyrus’ sexualized twerking at MTV’s Video Music Awards with Robin Thicke sparked outrage on and off the internet, not least from Kelly Clarkson who tweeted “#pitchystrippers.” But La Cyrus isn’t taking the hate lying down and has apparently given her detractors not one, but two fingers in response.
The day after Sunday’s show, the 20-year-old tweeted a back facing snap of herself wearing just a shirt customized to promote her upcoming, new album #Bangerz. Posing with both middle fingers extended, Cyrus — naturally — also displayed a glimpse of her posterior for good measure.
The uncompromising picture was captioned, “#BANGERZ #longassfingerz.”
For those who missed the VMA’s and the brouhaha that followed, Cyrus hit Brooklyn’s Barclays Center stage in a teddy-design bodysuit to perform her hit single “We Can’t Stop” before teaming up with Robin Thicke for “Blurred Lines.”
During the performance, the songstress simulated sex with a oversized foam finger, twerked like it was going out of style (which apparently it is), hung her tongue out (a lot), bent over (most of the time), and slapped her backup dancers’ well-endowed behinds.
#BANGERZ #longassfingerz pic.twitter.com/aLZefW5W5C
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) August 26, 2013
Celebrity reaction to Miley’s eye-popping moves among the VMA crowd audience saw Canadian rapper-singer-producer Drake avert his eyes, One Direction’s Zayn Malik look away, Rihanna (no stranger to the provocative herself) slow clap. Sadly, Slate reports Will Smith’s family’s slack-jawed reaction has now been attributed to Lady Gaga’s opening performance of Applause not Cyrus.
In the minority, former Disney actress Selena Gomez “loved it.” Director Judd Apatow also praised.
Away from Brooklyn, the Parents Television Council damned the performance and said it “simply substituted talent with sex.”
Morning Joe co-anchor Mika Brzezinski dubbed it “really, really disturbing.” Brezinski added: “That young lady, who is 20, is obviously deeply troubled, deeply disturbed. Probably has confidence issues, probably an eating disorder. And I don’t think anybody should have put her up on stage. That was disgusting.”
Real Time host Bill Maher tweeted, “Haven’t been in a strip club in awhile, but good to see nothing has changed.”
Brooke Shields, who played Miley’s mother in Hannah Montana and now guest co-anchors on the Today show, slammed the VMA shock moment, saying:”I want to know who’s advising her and why it’s necessary,” adding, “It’s a bit desperate.”
Adina Klein, segment producer for Good Day Chicago, tweeted, “When rihanna is staring at you like you are out of your mind you should really rethink your life (sic).”
Country singer, Josh Gracin, posted, “Thanks Miley Cyrus.. Now I have to explain to my 11 yr old daughter why she no longer can follow your career.”
Cody Alan, Country music host on CMT Radio Live, chimed with, “Miley Cyrus. Or as we call her at my house, HOannah Montana.”
Bringing up the rear, Thicke’s own mom, Gloria Loring railed to Yahoo!, “I just keep thinking of her mother and father watching this. Oh, Lord, have mercy.” She went on: “I was not expecting her to be putting her butt that close to my son. The problem is now I can never ‘unsee’ it.”
Meanwhile, Van Toffler, president of Viacom Media Networks Music and Logo Group, who parent MTV, told The Hollywood Reporter they knew Miley’s performance would be provocative.
He added: “Performers turn it up like athletes on game day. Did Miley do every move in rehearsal that she did the night of the show? No. We knew her performance was going to be provocative the way her video is. But on live TV, the performers turn it up a couple of notches. We didn’t see Robin’s costume or his suit before he got on, but Miley definitely brought a different bit of energy to the live show. But clearly she’s been making some provocative videos lately.”
No doubt the debate will rage on, but the 2013’s VMA’s were watched by 10.1 million viewers, a 60 percent jump from last year’s numbers. Maybe Cyrus — and her two fingers — will have the last word after all.
” Miley stole the night, which is why the nation is still in recovery today. Thanks, Miley…” – Rolling Stone
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) August 27, 2013
