Cyrus "Embarrassed" By Photo Spread

Images Some Deem Racy In Upcoming Vanity Fair; Pop Star Says She Thought They'd Be "Artistic"

(CBS/AP)  Miley Cyrus is taking issue with a photo of herself that's going around, and it's not another amateur, truth-or-dare Internet snapshot - it's the handiwork of Annie Leibovitz.

"I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed," Cyrus said Sunday in a statement through her publicist. "I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about."

The photos, appearing in the upcoming issue of Vanity Fair, were taken by Leibovitz, a renowned celebrity photographer whose edgy, silver-toned portraits have included subjects such as Angelina Jolie, Scarlett Johansson and a naked, pregnant Demi Moore.

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Photos: A Look At Miley Cyrus

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The Cyrus pictures accompany an interview with the 15-year-old pop star and her father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus. They include shots of the teen wrapped in what appears to be a satin bed sheet, looking over her shoulder with her back exposed.

The Disney Channel, which airs Cyrus' TV show "Hannah Montana," was also critical of Vanity Fair.

"Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines," a network statement said.

A phone message left for a Vanity Fair representative was not immediately returned Sunday night. But in a statement to the TV show "Entertainment Tonight," Vanity Fair defended its position.

"Miley's parents and/or minders were on the set all day," the magazine said. "Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley."

In a caption released by Vanity Fair with the photo last week, Cyrus expressed her comfort with how the apparently topless picture turned out.

"I think it's really artsy," she told the magazine at the time. "It wasn't in a skanky way. Annie took, like, a beautiful shot, and I thought that was really cool. That's what she wanted me to do, and you can't say no to Annie."

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Photos: Miley Cyrus' "Best Of Both Worlds"

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"Teenagers are putting far worse pictures on their MySpace and Facebook accounts every day," People magazine Senior Editor Julie Dam told Early Show co-anchor Harry Smith Monday. "These pictures are relatively tame."

"Her name is out there again," Dam added. "And honestly, she's apologized. She said she feels bad. Her fans are everything to her. She's kind of gotten ahead of this. And it's part of her image that she is clean. And she's innocent. And she's sweet."

A handful of borderline racy snapshots of a girl who appeared to be Cyrus have appeared on the Internet in recent months, including images of a girl posing in her underwear and bikini last week.

Cyrus is one of the biggest - and most G-rated - acts in the country and is often considered a role model for young girls. Her "Best of Both Worlds" tour sold out arenas, and her successful 3-D concert film collected $31.3 million in its opening weekend in February.

[tinaleann-2009]

honestly, what were you thinking???? You are a huge role modle for young girls, all around the world, Im thankfull that my daughter is to young, to look up to you. you have such a opportunity to stand out and be differant from all the other young movie stars, dont follow in there footsteps, just look at there lives,its nothing for a young girl to dabble in, that life style will ruin you inside & out. and shame on your parents for allowing such a picture of there daughter. Miley maybe your not ready for the big grown up world of stardome, heck there are adults in the very same buisnes that cant handle it, I thought you were going to be differant from the rest..... its just to bad. So you should get control of your actions now & remember whoe is watching you!!!!!

[babygirl191-2009]

miley i think that you are the most beatiful young lady and i didn''t see nothing wrong with the photo''s and ithink that i would feel the same if that happend to me.

[ranger1948]

Cyrus
You are a beautiful and talented young lady. I think the spread ws done very tastefully and you have niothing to be ashamed of. Keep your head high, there will always be people making derogatory comments, they are only petty people who are jealous of everyone else.

[ranger1948]

Cyrus
You are a beautiful and talented young lady. I saw nothing wrong with the photo spread. I think it was done very tastefully.

[ranger1948]

Cyrus
You are a beautiful and talented young lady. I saw nothing wrong with the photo spread. I think it was done very tastefully.

[victoriak68]

I find it nauseating that the kids on here can spell the word "comparison" but fail to see the spelling error in "romodel" even after being corrected. The correct spelling is "ROLE MODEL". It''s two words, not one, ARRGGGHHH!!!!
As for Miley. I don''t think it''s yet time to remove her from her home. You have an over-ambitious photographer who''s capable of fast-talking most adults, a teenager is a piece of cake. Sure the parents were onset, but given the world in which these people live I can see it as being quite easy in convincing them that this isn''t porn, but instead very creative material. It''s "artsy" as Miley had been told and at first believed until the whole country went all spaztic over this. Face it people, she may be "innocent" for now, but she doesn''t live in a innocent world and she is growing up. Just like Britney, just like Hilary. The bed sheet shot IS too mature for her age and for what she promotes through her work, but face it, it could have been worse. We could be seeing another Britney and Miley is definitely NOT another Britney.

[dylanxxv]

Im not trying to take sides but,everyone does stupid things in their life time.Everyone makes mastacks.Yes those photos were not great for all the teens to see.Yes shes my romodel and she always will be.But i dont think that, thats a very good image for her.I do think that all mothers should give miley a second chance.I know they would if it was their child...The whole my parents were there thing sounds to me like a lie.If they were there they would of said some thing like every other parent would.They would of took charge.I can say if she continues this image then i can tell u shes so not going to be my romodel anymore.Thanks

Posted by FabSam300 at 07:20 PM : Apr 28, 2008

She''s your "romodel"? Perhaps you should seek out a teacher as a role model...BTW...If you looked at the pictures you would know that her parents were both there...

[RodgerMiles]

"Wouldn''''t Texas authorities see this as grounds for removing her from her parents?..." Posted by jsf14

It''s interesting that most networks are referring to this as a Miley mistake and then commenting how clever Disney, Vanitly Fair and Leibovitz are. I have always thought that child pornography was illegal as well as improper.

In the meantime, the network with the number one show that promotes lying and cheating puts the pictures on primetime display.

[fabsam300]

OK to me this is not rele a big deal.I mean u see all those other romodels having babys at the age of 16.In comparision i think the baby one is worse.Just think of the pictures as a teenage girl wanting more fans.She was talked into this.I blame all of her friends and family for not watching out for her.I mean look at jamie lynn spears she was a big thing back in the day and now shes having at baby at the age of 16 to me the celeberity world needs to chill.STOP making people do things just to get more fans.I think we need better celebs that we know wont do any of this foolish actions we see happening.PLZ look out the window theres in about a million people that i know that would mever do something so stupid even if it was under pressure.Pick better ppl plz.thanks for reading.

[fabsam300]

Im not trying to take sides but,everyone does stupid things in their life time.Everyone makes mastacks.Yes those photos were not great for all the teens to see.Yes shes my romodel and she always will be.But i dont think that, thats a very good image for her.I do think that all mothers should give miley a second chance.I know they would if it was their child...The whole my parents were there thing sounds to me like a lie.If they were there they would of said some thing like every other parent would.They would of took charge.I can say if she continues this image then i can tell u shes so not going to be my romodel anymore.Thanks