Marie Osmond is the latest person to weigh in on the controversy surrounding Miley Cyrus on the cover of Vanity Fair. The 15-year-old Cyrus has been widely criticized for posing for the magazine wearing just a sheet, exposing her bare back. Osmond, a former child star herself, says the person to blame is Miley's dad, Billy Ray Cyrus, for leaving his daughter alone during the photo shoot."My parents never, never left us alone," Osmond tells AOL Television. "We always had some form of a guardian or something with us, a guardian that would represent what they would have done. Her dad stepped out, and that's when it happened. How do you say no to somebody like Annie Leibovitz [the photographer] when you're a little girl?"
Friends of the Cyrus family are defending them in PEOPLE magazine. A close source argues that both Miley's grandmother and teacher stayed at the photo shoot after Billy Ray was called away for a business meeting.
"Billy Ray was not there for the shot," the source told PEOPLE. "He would not have approved that shot if he was."
Osmond contends that's no excuse: "If your kids are going to be in that kind of business, then you need to make it your business to be there for them and help them figure out, but not necessarily to control them," she says.
Miley has since apologized to her fans, saying she is "embarrassed" by the Vanity Fair cover.
Reader Comments(1 of 1)
roseat 5-09-2008
Let me get this straight…. Billy Ray is pointing the finger at Vanity Fair and the photographer, along with Disney. I understand why Disney is lashing out at Vanity Fair. Miley is thier most bankable star. Both her parents were on the set and saw the pics as the day went on. If that is correct, they had more than enough time to speak up. Miley is young and was thrown into an adult business where she needs people, her parents, managers, etc. , looking out for her best interest. This is the most famous Billy Ray has ever been. Step aside. You had your day. Start taking care of your daughter. You only get one childhood.
Bruceat 5-10-2008
Why is no one castigating Leibovitz? This was sleazy underhanded move preying on a un sophisticated minor. She is the villan here. Ms Cyrus is not your typical Hollywood teen, and Leibovitz took full and coomplete advantage. Had Leibovitz been a man, the hue nad cry would be pinpointed in her direction (wherre it should be). Disney should sever all ties with Leibovitz!
Mary Dozat 5-10-2008
Marie needs to clean her own house before she starts in on others.
starbucksat 5-10-2008
People are acting like Miley's three. She's fifteen - plenty old enough to say, "No." If she were honestly embarassed to see the pictures, she would have been embarassed to have posed for them.
The photographer and the magazine are to blame, in my opinion. Miley made a very bad judgement, but the MYSPACE generation thrives on showing off for cameras.
Glenat 5-10-2008
Marie Osmond has a lot of nerve when she a few years ago abandoned her kids and hubby and took off cross country due to what she claimed was "Post partum Depression". Abandoning you family is the worst think a parent can do, not let their child take an artistic photowith a top photographer. I think the pot needs to meet the kettle here........
willieat 5-11-2008
Billy, the supposed father, is at fault here. The excuse that he was away when the sleezy pictures of his daughter were taken means nothing- what were the other relatives that were there, just zombies to allow the pictures? The sleeze ball father is in it for fame and money- posing with his daughter with both showing alot of skin. Sickening. Billy is an uneducated hillbilly who wants to be 20 again by the way he wears his hair and dresses and tries acting cool. He deserves every ounce of criticism he's now getting.
chris coffeyat 5-11-2008
good lord its not freaking playboy..and the osmonds..give us all a break sqeeky cleans..so tired of this kind of news..along with britney spears,ghee lets take more pictures of her and treat her like the elephant man,michael jackson knows somethin about that..
lotusmomat 5-11-2008
annie is not to blame. it is irrelevent IF billy stepped out of the shoot when the pic was taken. miley, her parents and handlers had the final say on what pics were ok to send to Vanity Fair and to be published. why people continue to blame everyone but the responsible parties (miley/parents/handlers) for publishing the pics, is beyond me. anyone who posts here or elsewhere blaming annie, is a jackass.
lotusmomat 5-11-2008
annie is not to blame. it is irrelevent IF billy stepped out of the shoot when the pic was taken. miley, her parents and handlers had the final say on what pics were ok to send to Vanity Fair and to be published. why people continue to blame everyone but the responsible parties (miley/parents/handlers) for publishing the pics, is beyond me. anyone who posts here or elsewhere blaming annie, is a donkey's poopshoot.
RocketRacoonat 5-11-2008
I think the Puratians should have stayed on the boat, for the most part, the world has reaped nothing but woe from that particular thread of the American mosaic.
Cheers,
RR
Denise Godfreyat 5-16-2008
Where are all your minds people!!! Has anybody looked into their own closets? You greater than thou folks make me sick and are nothing but hypocrites. Is this all you've got to waste your time on? How about not blaming anyone and just be happy for the girl! Would it have been any different if she was wearing a towel coming out of the shower or bath tub? Why don't you put your mouths and your energy on things that are really important for all of us such as the our freedom (which we're loosing a little more each day and just allowing it to happen), economy, gas prices, taxes, health care, etc. This sick society we are living in is looking for ways to make an innocent situation into something that is dirty and shameful. Come on people. What about the movies, tv shows..etc, where you've got "little kids" using profanity, smoking.... which is supposed to be "funny"? Marie: As for you, come on, get real!!! Wasn't it just a few months ago that your own son was admitted for an addiction? Who do you BLAME for that.. how about his "MOTHER and FATHER"? Use your mouth for singing and entertaining and leave your opinions to yourself. Everybody pulls their pants up the same way. We just don't have the luxuries that you do, but believe me, we are much richer than you!!! Leave Billy Ray & Miley alone and let her do what she's been doing entertaining our kids without turning her into the next Britney Spears or the next psycho killer!!!