Sinead O’Connor to Miley Cyrus: Stop being naked & licking sledgehammers

Miley Cyrus

I was doing the school run this morning and heard a weird story about Miley Cyrus on Elvis Duran and the Morning Show. The program is affiliated with iHeartRadio, so maybe they had an inside scoop on Miley’s behavior at the festival. They reported how when Miley wasn’t giving herself a front wedgie onstage, she was handing out Liam Hemworth’s cell number to her fans and telling them to prank call him at all hours. I don’t know if it’s true, but it sounds like something Miley might do. I’m guessing Liam’s already changed his number.

Last night was the momentous premiere of Miley’s MTV documentary, Miley: The Movement. Miley was very excited and tweeted about being the “happiest girl in the world.” Then she put on her very best marijuana-print socks and settled in for the show.

Miley Cyrus

Did I watch the show? Kind of, but I’m really sick and out of it, so I didn’t take notes. I also didn’t learn anything new except that Miley calls her mom “my homie.” Buzzfeed has a good collection of screencaps and quotes if you’re interested.

Now for the good stuff. Remember how Miley gleefully compared herself to Sinead O’Connor during her recent trainwreck of an interview with Rolling Stone? Well Sinead has penned an open letter in response. Of course Sinead has her own issues (like THAT tattoo), but she has her head on straight as far as the music business goes. She also sounds very maternal here, and it’s a lovely letter despite all the profanities. Sinead points out how Miley is only degrading herself by getting naked for Uncle Terry in her videos and licking sledgehammers. I hope Miley takes these words seriously:

Sinead O'Connor

Dear Miley,

I wasn’t going to write this letter, but today i’ve been dodging phone calls from various newspapers who wished me to remark upon your having said in Rolling Stone your Wrecking Ball video was designed to be similar to the one for Nothing Compares… So this is what I need to say… And it is said in the spirit of motherliness and with love.

I am extremely concerned for you that those around you have led you to believe, or encouraged you in your own belief, that it is in any way ‘cool’ to be naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos. It is in fact the case that you will obscure your talent by allowing yourself to be pimped, whether its the music business or yourself doing the pimping.

Nothing but harm will come in the long run, from allowing yourself to be exploited, and it is absolutely NOT in ANY way an empowerment of yourself or any other young women, for you to send across the message that you are to be valued (even by you) more for your sexual appeal than your obvious talent.
I am happy to hear I am somewhat of a role model for you and I hope that because of that you will pay close attention to what I am telling you.

The music business doesn’t give a sh-t about you, or any of us. They will prostitute you for all you are worth, and cleverly make you think its what YOU wanted.. and when you end up in rehab as a result of being prostituted, ‘they’ will be sunning themselves on their yachts in Antigua, which they bought by selling your body and you will find yourself very alone.

None of the men oggling you give a sh-t about you either, do not be fooled. Many’s the woman mistook lust for love. If they want you sexually that doesn’t mean they give a f– about you. All the more true when you unwittingly give the impression you don’t give much of a f— about yourself. And when you employ people who give the impression they don’t give much of a f— about you either. No one who cares about you could support your being pimped.. and that includes you yourself.

Yes, I’m suggesting you don’t care for yourself. That has to change. You ought be protected as a precious young lady by anyone in your employ and anyone around you, including you. This is a dangerous world. We don’t encourage our daughters to walk around naked in it because it makes them prey for animals and less than animals, a distressing majority of whom work in the music industry and it’s associated media.

You are worth more than your body or your sexual appeal. The world of showbiz doesn’t see things that way, they like things to be seen the other way, whether they are magazines who want you on their cover, or whatever.. Don’t be under any illusions.. ALL of them want you because they’re making money off your youth and your beauty.. which they could not do except for the fact your youth makes you blind to the evils of show business. If you have an innocent heart you can’t recognise those who do not.

I repeat, you have enough talent that you don’t need to let the music business make a prostitute of you. You shouldn’t let them make a fool of you either. Don’t think for a moment that any of them give a flying f— about you. They’re there for the money.. we’re there for the music. It has always been that way and it will always be that way. The sooner a young lady gets to know that, the sooner she can be REALLY in control.

You also said in Rolling Stone that your look is based on mine. The look I chose, I chose on purpose at a time when my record company were encouraging me to do what you have done. I felt I would rather be judged on my talent and not my looks. I am happy that I made that choice, not least because I do not find myself on the proverbial rag heap now that I am almost 47 yrs of age.. which unfortunately many female artists who have based their image around their sexuality, end up on when they reach middle age.

Real empowerment of yourself as a woman would be to in future refuse to exploit your body or your sexuality in order for men to make money from you. I needn’t even ask the question.. I’ve been in the business long enough to know that men are making more money than you are from you getting naked. Its really not at all cool. And its sending dangerous signals to other young women. Please in future say no when you are asked to prostitute yourself. Your body is for you and your boyfriend. It isn’t for every spunk-spewing dirtbag on the net, or every greedy record company executive to buy his mistresses diamonds with.

As for the shedding of the Hannah Montana image.. whoever is telling you getting naked is the way to do that does absolutely NOT respect your talent, or you as a young lady. Your records are good enough for you not to need any shedding of Hannah Montana. She’s waaaaaaay gone by now.. Not because you got naked but because you make great records.

Whether we like it or not, us females in the industry are role models and as such we have to be extremely careful what messages we send to other women. The message you keep sending is that its somehow cool to be prostituted.. its so not cool Miley.. its dangerous. Women are to be valued for so much more than their sexuality. we aren’t merely objects of desire. I would be encouraging you to send healthier messages to your peers.. that they and you are worth more than what is currently going on in your career. Kindly fire any m-therf—er who hasn’t expressed alarm, because they don’t care about you.

[From SineadOConnor.com]

This is an amazing letter. If anyone can get through to Miley about how ridiculous she looks right now, it’s Sinead. I know Miley thinks she’s in control right now, but she isn’t. She’s doing what Larry Rudolph and her producers are telling her to do. The tongue thing is silly, and that’s all Miley, but the rest of the stuff isn’t so harmless. Miley seems to really despise her Disney days, but it does her no good to rail against it so blatantly. That’s what bothers me most about Miley’s rebellion — she seems like she’s doing it only to escape her past. Her handlers are taking advantage. When Sinead says, “You don’t need to let the music business make a prostitute of you,” Miley should listen.

If you haven’t seen Miley’s SNL promo commercial yet, you can watch it here. She jokes about the VMAs and claims, “I stick out my tongue to smell things.”

Miley Cyrus

Miley Cyrus

Photos courtesy of Fame/Flynet, WENN, NBC & Miley Cyrus on Twiter

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210 Responses to “Sinead O’Connor to Miley Cyrus: Stop being naked & licking sledgehammers”

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  1. Elisabeth says:

    I’m not sure I would trust a woman that had a man’s initials tattoo’d on her face

    • ZigZagZoey says:

      And not a guy she liked…One who supposedly ruined her life….Hmmmm I don’t think she needed any help, she ruined it just fine. She is an idiot and a lunatic.

      • ZigZagZoey says:

        Ugh….I have to say….She is right and has a lot of great points.
        The crap I’ve heard about her in the last few years is what popped right into my head before I really read the whole thing.
        So….
        It’s not who is saying it, it’s what she is saying…

      • Liv says:

        I think it doesn’t matter what Sinead did in the past and how she comes off. She’s dead on with her letter. I really hope that Miley takes it serious, because it’s the truth. She will end up in rehab and others will still benefit from her.

    • Crabcake says:

      Yeah! We only take advice from perfect people!!! Keep moving Sinead, you know nothing!

      • shaniqua nunyadambidness says:

        I know, right? Cause if she’s gonna give advice, she better have never made any mistakes.

      • Trillion says:

        Sinead O’ Connor “knows nothing”? WTF? She knows exactly, precisely what it is like to be a 20 year old female in the sexist world of Pop music. I don’t agree with everything in her letter, but to say she know’s nothing is absolutely incorrect. She knows a shit load.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      Hold up, Elisabeth. Sinead O’Connor is THE Professor Emeritus of The School of Hard Knocks and Sharp Blows to the Head! She is exactly who Miley Cyrus should be taking advice from because she’s been there, done that, AND got the T-shirt. Sinead knows “The only thing to do with good advice is to pass it on. It’s never of any use to oneself.” – Oscar Wilde

      I, for one, prefer my advice to come from an individual who’s experienced and well versed in the subject matter at hand.

      ‘But first, are you experienced?
      Have you ever been experienced?
      Well, I have’ – Jimi Hendrix

    • Regina Lynx says:

      The validity of a claim is not related to the likeability of who states it.

      In other words, what Sinead said is true. It has nothing to do with what she has done.

      Besides, a lot of her issues have to do with BPD. I think it’s insensitive to hold her mental disorder against her.

      • gg says:

        Thank You for saying this!

        Sinead is my hero. And she is standing up to bullies who ridicule people with disorders. She knows she’s not perfect and she’s got help and taking responsibility for everything. And it’s obvious that everything she’s said in her letter is true.

        Who else has bothered to tell Miley the real deal. Not her sleazy parents. She’s gone off the rails.

        TEAM SINEAD.

    • LeMeow says:

      I agree. Having said that, this letter rings true.

  2. Amory says:

    Can we all agree to stop discussing and move on already? Her performance, tweets, actions — they are all publicity stunts and calls for attention. She is not doing anything worth so much discussion by grown adults.

    • erika says:

      I think u got it and its all as simple as that

      LOOK at me! Look at me! Look! Look! Please ….beg you….please……look

    • Arock says:

      Totally disagree. Novelty socks are VERY hardcore.

      • Hautie says:

        But you are probably missing what Miley really wants you to see.

        She is sitting in someones lap. There are a pair of black wing tips flanking her green feet.

      • littlestar says:

        Hautie, I was wondering about that too.

      • Arock says:

        @Hautie- Whatever. It’s billy ray. (Wait, do you think he wears lace up shoes?)

      • Hakura says:

        @Hautie – I hadn’t even noticed that, either. Perhaps taking (another, if those phone # rumors are true) swipe at Liam? Maybe trying to make him jealous (during the 10 seconds he spends lookin at his phone between shoots & evenings atop his Mexican Hannah Montana)?

    • missmerry says:

      no grown adult should have any interest in anything having to do with celebrities, not just this girl.

      your comment makes you one of them.

      • ZigZagZoey says:

        I don’t understand your comment at all.
        Does that mean you are a child? Otherwise why would you be here?

  3. Mandy says:

    That was AMAZEBALLS. Unfortunately, I’m sure Miley will not take Sinead’s advice.

  4. Kate says:

    Sinead’s a bigger mess than Miley, has been for decades now. Just as much of a fame-whore too. I hate celebrities writing open letters to each other. If they actually gave a shit about the person they’re writing about, they could get an email addy or a phone number through their agents and contact the person privately.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      Kate, for me it depends on the content of the open letter. Many celebs ARE obvious attention whores and publish these facile screeds in a pathetic grab at relevancy.

      In this case, Sinead O’Connor is clearly compassionate and knows of what she speaks. IMO, the tone and substance of her open letter to Miley Cyrus is also meant to educate women everywhere who may not realize they’re architects of their own subjugation and degradation. It seems to me that O’Connor hopes young women will see themselves in this letter and then decide to treat themselves the way they most decidedly deserve.

    • emmie_a says:

      Did you read the letter?? Sinead may be a *mess* but her messes have taught her a lot and she has knowledge and awareness, two of the many things Miley is lacking.

      Dlisted just posted pictures of Miley’s latest Terry Richardson fiasco. I usually don’t wish for people to fail, but I can’t wait for Miley’s epic collapse because I hate her image and her branding and everything she’s trying to be. Enough already.

      • Liv says:

        Totally agree. And Sinead wrote a really beautiful letter with very good arguments. She seems pretty smart.

        Miley’s new pictures are so disgusting, I even wonder if Richardson is a pedophile.

      • GreenTurtle says:

        Totally agree. Who better than Sinead to advise Miley? Who better to get advice from than someone who has experienced exactly what you’re going through? Maybe everyone else here is perfect and isn’t aware that when you’re going through a difficult, isolating experience, you value most the counsel of other flawed humans who have gone through the same thing.

      • atorontogal says:

        Her eyes look so sad in some of those pics! TR makes my skin crawl.

    • Dalovelee says:

      I agree. sinead o’connor made a complete ass of herself on SNL tearing up the Popes pic and now it woe is me I had mental issues …this has been had her ass handed to her by Miley. Leave the girl alone if she wanted to dance around naked and twerk mind your own business and sing your folk songs. She never felt concern for Miley she just wanted to get her name in the press..BTW HOW IS SHE ORDAINED ?Wearing a religious color yet she is writing What the f*ck in a public letter. And taking her the court for what freedom of speech?

      • bob says:

        I think you meant to say that Sinead was the only person in the public eye talking about the abuse within the church as was maligned and derided for years even when it came out that she was right, no?

      • Trillion says:

        Sinead was ahead of her time on exposing the pope and was finally vindicated 20 years later the depth and breadth of the Catholic church’s pedophile protection plan came to light.

  5. atorontogal says:

    Wherein Sinead is an emotional wreck she is a very clever woman indeed. One who knows and speaks her mind. Her words are brilliant, and if Miley wants a long lasting career she should take heed.

    • TheOriginalKitten says:

      This exactly. Your comment perfectly summarizes the glaring difference between the two.

    • blue marie says:

      + 2, you said it better than I could.

    • bettyrose says:

      This plus Sinead is very talented and has contributed meaningfully to the music world.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      +6

    • skuddles says:

      I agree 1000%!

      I adore and respect Sinead, issues and all. Miley is just a joke to me.

      • NYC_girl says:

        Totally agree. I still am moved when I listen to “Last Day of Our Acquaintance.” I agree with snappyfish below too.

    • Kelly says:

      Exactly

    • snappyfish says:

      I agree, but you forgot to mention that miley has absolutely no talent, and sinead has the voice of a pissed-off angel. “the lion & the cobra” is an amazing album (and sinead was only about 21 when she made it) and blows anything miley will ever do out of the water.

      • lisa says:

        ita, sinead had talent to fall back on and could walk away from the foolishness. strip miley of her foolishness and there is nothing left.

      • Trillion says:

        That is an album with deep meaning that has provided solace to many people, myself included. Miley may have lots of hits on her videos (like most nudity on the internet will tend to have) but absolutely none of the lasting emotional and artistic impact of Sinead. Miley never should have invited the comparison because it throws into sharp relief how shallow she is. Now, there’s nothing inherently wrong with shallow. I can dig some shallow. But again, Miley brought it up first and now she is reaping what she has sown.

  6. Mirna says:

    Obviously, Sinead makes sound decisions; see the turkey tatoo (or whatever that is) on her chesticle. That being said, the letter is great. Too bad Miley is too far up her own arse right now to take heed to what’s in it.

    I cringed when I heard her refer to her mother as her “homie.” Mothers are not supposed to be homies; they are supposed to be mothers. Also appalled at Billy Ray capitalizing on Miley’s newfound fame by making the rounds of the talk shows. Despite the money, her parents are no better than Lindsay Lohan’s.

    • Jackie Jormp Jomp (formerly Zelda) says:

      AHAHAHAHA
      “Turkey tattoo”

      Pretty sure that’s Jesus, but I like your description the best of all things forever.

    • Nono says:

      Eh, y’know, I’m okay with BRC’s behaviour. His name couldn’t have hurt his daughter’s chances of getting her Disney job, they’d worked together for years, and now it’s time for Miley to repay the favour.

      Her mother, on the other hand … I get the same vibes from her as I do from PMK and Dina Lohan: that she’s riding the gravy train.

    • Amanduh says:

      I felt weird when I saw her mom going along with everything, smiling away like she was watching her little girl in a pageant. I couldn’t imagine my mom sitting there while I’m bra less (no shade), in a cut off shirt twerking and grinding away. She would yank off that stage and simply say, “You’re better than this…” and give me the dreaded, “I’m disappointed with you” treatment as I hung my head in shame.

      • Hakura says:

        @Amanduh – My mom would likely wait (as opposed to yanking me off), & give me ‘the guilt eye’ w/tears welling up, telling me how she only wants what’s best for me, & for me not to cheapen myself like a common whore just bc you’re dancing having fun. She’s less the angry/stern type than she used to be, when I was younger (&she still had all those parental ideals).

        But she was raised by a Southern minister (in GA), so it could’ve been much worse. She’s the only 1 (/3 daughters) who didn’t marry an up & coming minister. Point is, I’d feel horrible disappointing her, even as a grown 27yr old woman. I always felt Miley’s Mother was living through her, but hasn’t been near as ‘pro-active’ in her career as Dina & PMK. She just never said ‘no’ to her.

      • Amanduh says:

        @ Hakura: sounds like we’re pretty lucky to have awesome moms 😉

  7. MrsBPitt says:

    wow…slow clap!!! My God, that letter was amazing!!! I pray Miley listens…

    • QQ says:

      I Know, Right?! if that wasnt a quiet “grab by your shoulders and shake some sense back into you” i dont know what was!

    • campbell says:

      Absolutely right. I know that Sinead has had her personal ups and downs. Yet, she is correct- she never has pimped herself out, nor her music. Certainly hope Miley listens, but fear she won’t.

      She’s just 20. I don’t like her at all, but of course she’s going to screw up. Do wish she would pay heed to Sinead, however.

    • L says:

      Nope, Miley’s already posted tweets about sinead is mentally ill. In one ear and out the other that one.

      • Hakura says:

        So first, she’s someone Miley claims to admire (admitting basing some aspects of her look on her), but as soon as Sinead gives her a big (completely true) reality check, she’s tweeting, calling her “mentally ill”? That’s pretty low, dragging mental illness into it, as though nothing Sinead says/said should be paid attention to, bc she’s “mentally ill”. I didn’t think there was any respect left to lose for Miley, but I just lost the last of it.

      • gg says:

        What Hakura said. Miley is a bigger idiot than I even thought. And Larry Rudolph is disgusting.

  8. Lindy79 says:

    I think as much as I agree with a huge part of this, because of her own issues people will brush this aside.

    I scoffed at the comparison she made to Nothing Compares 2U as a way to justify the naked ball swinging/licking the hammer. They are NOTHING alike.

    • bettyrose says:

      I’m truly interested to know if Wrecking Ball or any of Miley’s songs have positvely impacted the lives of adolescents -even one – the way Nothing Compares 2U – and that entire album, which I still love – impacted my adolescent life.

      • Didiz says:

        Sinead’s close up is so fascinatingly beautiful, on the other hand, all I see is protruding teeth on Miley’s

  9. TheOriginalKitten says:

    I was prepared to hate this and do a lot of eye-rolling but I liked the letter a lot. Sinead made some great points there.

    • Kiddo says:

      She did. As much as she grapples with mental illness, she has always said that she was bucking the system of “pretty”. Isn’t that why she chopped her hair off? Nothing compares to you is still a gut-wrenching, very genuine song about love. Sinead does have talent. And as much as people want to rag on her, that letter was lucid and had sound advice.

    • emmie_a says:

      I completely agree… The only eye-rolling I did was when Sinead praised Miley’s music.

      I’m so glad Miley is taking Sinead’s words to heart. I see she sent a tweet comparing Sinead to Amanda Bynes. What a dumbass. It’s totally not cool to (still) be making fun of Amanda, who is suffering from a serious mental illness. Keep being mature Miley.

      • TheOriginalKitten says:

        “I see she sent a tweet comparing Sinead to Amanda Bynes.”

        Whhaaaaaaat? Do you have a link? I’m not on Twitter.

        The maturity of a 13-year-old and to think she was going to get married. At least she avoided that disaster!

      • L says:

        It’s at the bottom of the post in the ‘update’ It’s pretty awful.

      • Kiddo says:

        @TheOriginalKitten, The irony of that, in the context that Miley wants to break out of being seen as a *child* star is a little head-spiny. Way to make that collapse on itself Miley. Maybe Uncle Creepy Terry can give you a pony ride on his bouncy leg. I think Miley is generally harmless, except now she seems intent on hurting herself.

      • emmie_a says:

        TOK: I can’t post the link (I think bc there are more gross Uncle Terry pics of Miley – Shield your eyes!!) but I read about the tweet on dlisted.

      • Hakura says:

        @TOKitten – Re: Maturity – I still can’t get over how much (& to what extent) she’s acting like a spoiled, bratty 16 yr old… Giving out Liam’s #, telling fans to prank call him? Now taking someone’s advice she didn’t like, & ‘explaining’ why they’re wrong w/blatant dismissive insults (saying Sinead is ‘mentally ill’, comparing her to Amanda Bynes, who did nothing to warrant being made fun of). She’s acting like a child in highschool. She thinks she’s ‘so cool’ & that she knows it all, when she’s just an idiotic pawn the tide will turn against hard on.

    • Christin says:

      When I saw the headline, I was shaking my head. However, the letter made some excellent points.

      I doubt the subject of it will listen, and her *mother* (Dina II) is probably ignoring it as well. Her mom probably is more of a homie than a true mother, so maybe that isn’t delusion on her part.

      • Meredith says:

        I know a very young (maybe 20 years old) mother of three kids under the age of 6. She was lamenting on facebook that her kids hated her and she felt she was doing a terrible job. I said they felt that way about her at times because she was the one who told them “No”. But it was her job as a good parent to sometimes tell them “no”. Too bad Trish Cyrus doesn’t understand what this young woman does.

        “My child and I are best friends!”. Ugh, I hate to hear that from parents.

  10. Arock says:

    The letter was well written and meaning, and holds special merit coming from someone who has been so successful on their own terms in the music industry. However, for whatever reason, you did tattoo a dudes name on your face. While I love and respect sinead oconner, me thinks the dr should heal thy self.

  11. Nono says:

    Sinead’s great. 🙂

  12. Marty says:

    Damn. Sinead just got real with that letter, and it was amazing.

    I watched Miley’s MTV Diary, I mean “The Movement” on and off last night(River Monsters was on, it sucks me in every time), can someone please explain what the big deal was with the police car before the VMAs? Why was she having such a melt down over it?

    • Hakura says:

      @Marty – I’d take River Monsters over Miley & her lizard tongue any day. I didn’t see it, but couldn’t even get through the preview, bc I couldn’t stand her nasally speaking voice. X_x

  13. CaribbeanLaura says:

    This is an amazing letter, People above have accused Sinead of famewhoring and I don’t think that’s the case. I think that Miley inadvertantly dragged her into this whole debacle and Sinead is actually trying to reach out and help her. I think that doing it in the form of an open letter is most likely the only way she could reach out to Miley. Mme O’connor may have emotional problems but that doesn’t make her adivce any less sound. Maybe this may get through to Miley. Maybe not.

  14. poppy says:

    can miley cyrus even read? if so, does she have the attention span to read that much?
    it is all fine and well to be young and do your thing but she is definitely pimping an image of what being young and doing your thing is. a very limited image.
    how needy for attention is she going to be at 30?

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      We can only hope that Miley Cyrus not only googles herself hourly, but also has the reading comprehension greater than that of a home schooled Scientologist.

      If so, she may recognize the simple truth Sinead O’Connor is telling her and profit immensely from this spot on advice.

  15. QQ says:

    No one is going to talk about the fact that she is between some dude’s legs in that pic or is that her intent, thusly we are ignoring it?

    I couldnt watch cause her voice drives me batshit…in fact the 2 mins put up on the Today show made me CRAZY, and also I had to rewind a smooth 3 times to UNDERSTAND her mom?

  16. Hautie says:

    There is an old VH1 Behind the Music with Pat Benatar. That is worth the view.

    Benatar clearly states how awful her record company treated her. Because she refused to be prostitute out for their benefit.

    The record company wanted her dressed like a whore. They wanted this sh*t Miley is doing right now. Just acting like a low rent hooker. Cause ya know, sex sells!

    And Sinead makes the best point of all. Stating that Miley isn’t even the one profiting from this. Everyone but Miley, will earn the cash off this dumb ass behavior.

    So Miley keep wagging that tongue and bare ass of yours.

    Your manager, agent, lawyer and record company men got mistress who need a new home. And that cost big $$$. They need you out there selling ass, for them to make those mortgage payments. 🙂

  17. Quinn says:

    Sinead has fought the “old boy network” her whole career…she’s a very bright woman who struggles with her own demons, but she is a true feminist.

    Yes, men have truly benefited from a society that expects women to look like porn stars, have random sex without expectations, not require fathers to step up and take responsibility…the list goes on and on. Women only suffer from what pop culture is selling them. I think one episode of Teen Mom will attest to that.

    • MacyGray says:

      Sinead’s a feminist? You mean the woman who didn’t think Mike Tyson should have been prosecuted on rape charges and called the woman he raped a “bitch”.

      I hate Miley, but Sinead is no feminist. Anyone who belittles rape victims is not a feminist.

  18. Vanessa says:

    I love what sinead had to say her letter was thoughtfully and fully of insight and what the music bussiness is really about i think in a few years Miley will realize she made a mistake . I don’t believe this new image is really Miley just a few years ago she said she didn’t listen to rap or even know one jay -z song Miley is just a puppet being control by her manager and pr people . They allowed Miley to think she in control I don’t like Miley being so ungratefully towards disney disney took a chance on her when no one else would . There a singer named ariana grande she not on disney but nikelodeon she a talent singer she had the number one album recently she didn’t have to take her clothes off to achieve her success .

  19. SageM says:

    Me to Sinead O’Connor: please stop marrying every bloke you meet.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      Me to Sinead O’Connor: Please get your own talk show dispensing feminist advice.

      A sort of “Do as I say, not as I do” approach would be hilarious and full of huge helpings of real talk.

  20. Corky says:

    Just because Sinead has publicly suffered from mental illness, don’t discount her talent and intelligence. She is lovely and I hate seeing people who are ill dismissed as crazy or unworthy of being heard.

    • RN says:

      Thank you. That’s exactly what I came here to say. I’ve yet to meet a single person in my 47 years who has led a perfect life. It’s naive and simplistic to discount someone’s wisdom simply because they haven’t lived their lives according to your precise expectations.

    • Malificent says:

      Exactly, mental illness is not a moral failing. Sinead may do and say some wild stuff when she’s in a manic phase of her illness, but it doesn’t invalidate her intelligence or opinions. Her letter was thoughtful AND kind to the recipient.

    • Lauren says:

      Yes! I find the comments writing off anything Sinead has to say, because of her illness, REALLY upsetting.

  21. d says:

    Sinead wins letter of the decade. Sure, she could have written privately, but what she’s saying applies to many and is worth going public for. She’s not just speaking to Miley. Sinead knows what she’s talking about imo. Yes, she’s made some terrible decisions, but she’s admitted her problems and she gets a pass from me at least. And for Miley to say she’s like Sinead? Geez. Sinead had (has?) a power that Miley never had and it’s really not certain will ever have. Sinead makes some really good points that apply to Britney and it’s interesting that Larry Rudolph is manager for both.

  22. OhMyMy says:

    Wow. Go Sinead. Completely agree with her take on this situation.

    Does Larry Rudolph owe another soul to the devil?

    Is this like his last big push to stuff his retirement account?

    Miley can go on and on about getting naked and sexy because she wants to and to shed the Hannah Montana image. Doesn’t she realize all this just makes her look like Hannah Montana 2.0? It’s still an image contrived to make money. Don’t kid yourself girl, it’s not all about the music, it’s all about the money (at least to everyone else around you).

    • gg says:

      Miley and Courtney Stodden have a mindset in common. Emphasis on the common. Any idiot can take their clothes off. The sooner she realizes this the sooner she can start being her genuine self.

  23. LadyRay says:

    Great letter but it would hold more weight if sent in private.

    • Kiddo says:

      I think it was a letter to Miley, but also a manifesto and letter to everyone else. I have no problem with that since Miley mentioned her name publicly as a muse for her video, which directly contradicted Sinead’s view on industry. She was answering in general as how what Miley did was not an intended result of her influence.

  24. carmelllooo says:

    Great advice from Sinead.

    Rihanna should heed this advice too! I despair for young women after seeing her Pour it Up video!

    • Relli says:

      In regards to R, I think there is one slight difference why people handle R with kid gloves and have been less verbal about her antics and thats because of the difficult brown assault.

      What happened was terrible and I dislike the difficult brown as much as the next person. But her image got a lot of mileage out of that and it elevated her to the next level of the game*. I believe that it was only when they got back together and the internet went crazy that people were like, “UM…”

      *I didn’t come to this conclusion on my own I stumbled onto an article about this a few days ago and thought it had some interesting points.

  25. missmerry says:

    she should write the same letter to Rihanna. She who-es herself and it’s old and tired and gross and not empowering at all.

  26. bettyrose says:

    Gawd I love you, Sinead. Miley, lock yourself in a room and play “The Emperor’s New Clothes” on repeat until you get it. Truly get it.

  27. Nev says:

    WORD.

  28. littlestar says:

    Love it love it love it! Thank you Sinead O’Connor for having the guts to say publicly what so many of us on here have been saying for months. After reading a poster’s comment yesterday that Miley is being “passed around” by a group of music producers/musicians, this letter is needed more than ever!

  29. LeLe25 says:

    I love this letter, I think it is right on. Additionally, it makes me sad that the men marketing Miley this way are having success because young girls like her. All this overly sexual behavior is making money because of young women! This isn’t for men, they could give a shit about Miley Cyrus, they don’t care. So it is girls that want this… I honestly just don’t understand.

    • Used☩oBeLulu says:

      As Sinead said, they are ‘made’ to think it is what they want by their exploiters. Sadly for Miley, her exploiters include her own mother and father.

      • Nono says:

        If I had to take issue with anything in the letter, it would be this. Women are complicit in whatever befalls them. Resisting this influence is no different than, say, resisting peer pressure to do drugs.

      • bettyrose says:

        I’m sorry Nono but that’s a false analogy. Your assumption is that young women are told repeatedly not to sell themselves as sex objects but choose to do it anyway (as with drugs). Sinead is acknowledging that young women are often given no other guidance than encouragement to sell themselves.

      • Nono says:

        bettyrose

        My assumption is the exact opposite.

        Teenagers are told all the time how awesome drugs are by their peers and media.

      • Sloane Wyatt says:

        Regardless of the drug messages young women receive, I don’t think anyone can debate that women and young girls are being bombarded with messages in the advertising and entertainment industries defining physical beauty, sexual attractiveness, and being sexually pleasing to men as the epitome of what it means to be a female. This results in an early sexualization of children before they can process what sexuality is and long before they have a chance to discover and explore their own sexuality. There is a clear difference between teaching girls to understand their sexuality and own their sexual development and branding them as sexual objects for male enjoyment.

        Sinead O’Connor is speaking to this ugly truth. Our culture has created a generation of children defined and valued according to their sexual appeal. We mustn’t stop speaking out against this culture that tells our young girls they exist for the sexual pleasure of others. Girls should be able to be just that–girls, without the pressure to look like or dress like fully grown women. Yet, if we keep buying into what a messed up, male dominated, overtly sexual culture dictates, then we are being complicit in our own objectification, albeit unknowingly.

        “The alternative is to give up and accept that women will be conditioned to be sex objects from birth. And I don’t think we’re ready to concede that fight just yet.” – http://hellogiggles.com/sexualizing-teen-underwear

        http://www.alive.com/articles/view/22092/playing_dress-up

      • Kiddo says:

        Sloane Wyatt, I think she is also revealing a larger truth about the music industry, even though she presents her case as female-gender specific. But really, many artists are used, chewed up, and spit out, so that others can make money. Some very talented male musicians have also experienced this and said as much. Some didn’t sell their dignity for others’ benefit. Pearl Jam’s Eddie Vedder had something to say about this years ago, and about staying true to the art and not becoming over-exposed for someone else to churn you out.

        Editing to add: but on second thought, maybe this is precisely what Miley wants: fame and money, the Kardashian route? If so, I suppose it’s up to her. As long as she doesn’t start insisting it’s art every five minutes, like Gaga. But in that case, she shouldn’t mention heavy weights as influences, like Sinead.

      • Sloane Wyatt says:

        You make very good points, Kiddo. Undoubtedly, Our Corporate Masters also exploit male talent in extremely damaging ways.

        Yet, while male musicians are often glossily packaged into superficial personas, women are systematically xeroxed into even more degrading sexual caricatures. It’s the perfidious commoditization of women that particularly galls me; the idea that women are seen as interchangeable sex sockets sickens me.

      • Nono says:

        Sloane

        I don’t disagree. However, my point is that even though, yes, the pressure’s there, people are responsible for themselves and are nevertheless complicit. I don’t like erasing people’s personal responsibility. It’s not all the big, bad world. Some of the “fault” must lie with the people themselves.

        Kiddo

        I do think that Miley wants this. I know at her age I got up to a lot of nonsense, some of which I maybe wouldn’t do again now that I’m grown up. She’s willing to do whatever it takes to become the new boss in town, and that’s perfectly okay. Maybe she’s just a fundamentally different person than she would have been if she hadn’t grown up in the spotlight, and this is all she knows, and it’s actually a comfortable place for her to be. I do think one day she’s going to regret having taken this route, however, no matter how much money it makes her.

        And I didn’t want to bring it up here, but yes, you’re right, men in Hollywood are manipulated, too. Just look at how Chris Evans’ handlers banned him from being a beefcake so he could finally get some respect (which he’s still struggling to earn), Twilight’s insistence on having Taylor Kitsch take his shirt off all the time, One Direction, Justin Bieber, Brad Pitt …

      • Sloane Wyatt says:

        Oh, OK, Nono, never mind!. 🙂

        Seriously though, I read your comment as facetiously saying that women are NOT complicit in their self degradation. Go figure.

      • Nono says:

        Sloane

        Hahah, uhmmmmm, not sure how that happened! 😛 Love your name, BTW!

  30. HB says:

    Sinead o’ Connor is absolutely right and dead on

  31. Sash says:

    To everyone saying Sinead is an idiot/lunatic, a lot of her seemingly ‘ridiculous’ antics occurred whilst she was manic. She has bipolar. It certainly shouldn’t take away from what she’s saying in this letter.

  32. Joseph says:

    Miley has a giant tongue, she knows, & loves to show it off on every posible occasion!

  33. d says:

    Celebitchy, you need to update this story because Miley tweeted a response and it ain’t pretty. Basically retweeted Sinead’s tweets when she was having a melt-down. Oy, oy, oy.
    And more…Sinead tearing the pope’s pic. Seriously, Miley does not get it AT ALL.

  34. antisocial says:

    Please, please do an update covering Miley’s resentful, spiteful responses. Girl knows Sinead made excellent, intelligent points and can’t summon the brain power to defend herself like a WOMAN rather she hurls insults and old pictures like an immature 13 yr old who got justly scolded for being a brat and an embarrassment to herself.

    More pics from skeevy Uncle Terry were released today and it makes me think Miley will spend many more years crawling out of and away from this hole/image she purposefully created than she spent shedding her “horrible” Hannah Montana character. Miley will soon tire of the criticism and hate, she’ll be shamed and humbled as it falls from the mouths of industry greats even SHE respects, but the self awareness and mortification will come too late to save her from the slowly trickling release of interviews, photos and video created in this “prostituting herself” headspace. The Uncle Terry photos today are just a few clods of the shitstorm she twerked into a frenzy that will be dumping on her head and her image for months and months to come.

    Sinead’s comments are relevant PRECISELY bc she had issues. Were Goop or Celine spouting this advice I wouldn’t listen either, they never lived in that world. Listen to Sinead bc she’s been there and she has nothing to gain from Miley following her advice or not.
    Be a big girl Miley, if you have something to say, use your words.

    • bowers says:

      I agree. The girl has no class. She could’ve said nothing in response.

    • Relli says:

      I just came here to say the same thing. Her response is just more proof of how emotionally immature she is and as MK pointed out its not even Sinead’s real twotter account…. I can’t with her.

  35. Sandra says:

    I think I might just print a copy of this letter and keep it to refer to. While she is speaking about the music industry, the larger message about self respect and how your dress and behaviour are percieved is very poignant and well put. It’s not just about the music industry – it’s about how you portray yourself and let others treat and value you in general. She may have mental illness issues, but let’s face it – if she had made nothing but perfect decisions she would have no wisdom to convey.

    • Christin says:

      She did make several great points that apply in a broader sense. I really like this letter, too. It may speak to many girls and women. Too bad the one who needs to hear it appears to lack the class and humility to listen to good advice.

  36. Luce says:

    I just saw Miley’s response and that is really low to start making fun of people with mental health issues. Sinead was being heartfelt and the letter is a legitimate message to Miley, not a criticism. But like the immature young lady she is, she’s proven her immaturity with her reaction. Her desperation for fame is palpable. And if she doesn’t stop with the drug references soon…. It’s like she thinks she’s the first white person in the world to advocate for weed. So pathetic.

  37. Jen34 says:

    Sinead is brilliant, which is one of the reasons why I love her. That letter is full of truths.

  38. Really? says:

    Miley truly is delusional, as are her inane pimps and publicists…has Miley even sat her twerking ass down once to listen to the whole Lion and the Cobra album? I seriously doubt it. Any chick who tongues a plastic barbie in a pool could not know the meaning of art or soul…maybe plastic pop art…Miley should compare herself to Warhol, not Sinead…that would have been more clever….it’s so obvious that the only reason she’s comparing herself to Sinead is due to Sinead’s “Nothing Compares 2 U” video where she stares soulfully into the camera…Miley was pulling a Sinead here for her Wrecking Ball video, and that’s about where the comparison lies.

    Sinead, nothing compares 2 U, and especially not MIley. They say that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery, i think we’d all have to beg to differ on this account. Note to MIley – Sinead didn’t LICK a photo of the pope, she tore it apart…that’s what you could have been doing with your wrecking ball, but we all know what you chose instead. Check yo self before you wreck yo self.

  39. LAK says:

    Sinead – Nothing compares to you.

  40. hotdoris says:

    I think Miley is just fine, she’s made of steel, an old hand at this stuff. The more the moms disapprove of her, the more the kids love her. She’s getting the publicity, making a ton of money, her albums got good reviews. Negative stuff gets forgotten over time. I wouldn’t waste my time “worrying” about her at all. Joke is on us, not her.

    • LeLe25 says:

      Her album got good reviews?? Oh, wow. At 25 I am officially old because anytime her songs come on I change them after a few seconds because I find them so boring. I know musical tastes are subjective, but I really do not understand. The only thing I can reason is that pop music is no longer an auditory experience, it is a visual one, and really young teens are sheltered enough to be shocked/ intrigued by her visuals. I mean I cannot imagine people in my age group buying her stuff. I wonder what her audience demographic is; if it is young teens I am annoyed that parents let their hard earned money go toward this … Visual.

  41. mkyarwood says:

    This. So many of my fem friends were mad at me when I was pissed off about her MTV performance. SLUT SHAMER, they cried. But, see, there is a huge difference for me between believing nudity to be a part of all humanity and just doing it ‘cos you’re acting out; between being confident in your sexuality and body, and just putting it out there because you know that’s something that will get you The Works. Believe me, I was tits out with my Daddy Issues for years until my first girlfriend and, later, my husband taught me my self worth. Miley. You are more than your skinny white ass, and you need to show me that it’s true.

  42. Eleonor says:

    I’ ve seen Miley reponse, I think a lot of stuff, like I am disgusted because Sinead has some serious mental illness, but when she menages to control it,she is perfectly capable of reasoning. Of course Miley is not able to read and write neither to think. And she doesn’t have a mental illness.
    But most of all: how true is that ” Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt”.

  43. St says:

    Well when fellow female singer publicly calls you prostitute you know it’s bad.
    But Miley is so obsessed with fame that she truly doesn’t understand that no one thinks: “Oh Miley, you are bad sexy girl. You go girl. Show them”. Everyone thinks that she is crazy, delusional clown and embarrassing herself.

    Miley was too focused on how much media talked about her VMA performance that she missed that point when everyone thought that she embarrassed herself.

  44. TonBenRon says:

    Ugh. Why is Sinead, and almost everyone commenting on here, treating her like a child? Is it because she at one point was a Disney child star?

    You people need to realize that she’s a 20 year-old woman now. I’m convinced she’s in control of her own career. She’s making her own choices, no one is telling her what to do.

    • GreenTurtle says:

      Nice to see you on the boards, Miley! Seriously though, those of us past 30 know that a 20-yr old is a child.

    • magpie says:

      OK, I’m gonna get on board here. I think all the uproar against Miley is just funny and she’s the one laughing all the way to the bank.

      P.S. I don’t watch TV and never listen to the radio so I only get Miley on the internet. She doesn’t bug me because I could care less, but obvs a lot of people are bothered.

    • Nono says:

      I hesitate to call a 20-year-old an adult. Legally? Perhaps. In reality, she’s still got a few years of growing up to do.

      I do agree with you that if she didn’t want to be doing this she wouldn’t be, but I also think Sinead’s letter had some good wisdom. Which Miley will promptly ignore because, of course! 😛

  45. Ginger says:

    How odd that Sinead would be the voice of reason here. I said it from the beginning that no one is talking about the song and her talent because it’s obscured by her fame whore antics. I hope she listens to her elders. ( I’m only three years younger than Sinead)

  46. Michelle says:

    Sinaed has her problems but she also has tenure.

    To just brush off this effort, is just awful and disrespectful.

    Gah, after this and the new Uncle Perrvy photo’s, I’m embarrassed (sp?) that I was once a Miley apoligist.

  47. Willow says:

    The only person who can help Miley at this point is Cesar Milan. (and he would start with her “handlers”!)

  48. Leila in Wunderland says:

    I know that a lot of people are applauding this, but the message in Sinead O’Connor’s letter is actually very problematic. I’m sure she means well, but basically she’s saying that nudity is bad, nudity is prostitution, if a woman poses nude/dresses provocatively it’s prostitution and she’s exploiting herself, a woman is automatically a ‘bad role model’ if she goes nude/dresses provocatively, and that it’s dangerous for women to wear revealing clothes because ‘it can get her raped’, and men are animals. This is thinly veiled slut-shaming and rape apologism.

    • magpie says:

      THANK YOU I agree!!

      I hated this: “None of the men oggling you give a sh-t about you either, do not be fooled. Many’s the woman mistook lust for love. If they want you sexually that doesn’t mean they give a f– about you. All the more true when you unwittingly give the impression you don’t give much of a f— about yourself. ”

      Miley said she wasn’t trying to be sexy and I don’t think that’s the point. She’s just trying to push buttons for publicity sake. And it’s working.

      Sinead had some very bad relationships and is probably speaking from a bad place. I think Miley’s relationship with Liam was probably pretty healthy and in the end she didn’t want that. She wanted THIS.

    • Kiddo says:

      I took the sentence about being prey in her nakedness, in a metaphoric way. I don’t think she was literally endorsing that what a woman wore made her fair game to a rapist. If Miley is to compare herself to Sinead, doesn’t she have the right and obligation to insist that the two are very dissimilar in the current state? I think she was addressing how not being true to art and simply going the route that makes you most desirable, gets you the most attention, for the moment, will get you eaten up as prey. Meaning they love you naked, doesn’t mean they love your work or you. Let’s face it, as Miley ages, the lust for her will die out, there is no denying that. If she relies on that as a sole way of gaining attention, she will not endure.

      And further up, I addressed that both male and female artists have been used in the industry to turn a profit for others.

      If Miley is doing this bit for attention and really doesn’t care what anyone thinks, it’s all about whatever it takes, then perhaps she shouldn’t compare herself to serious artists. Maybe she should say she was inspired by the Kardashians and be honest.

      And really, Uncle Terry doesn’t give a fuck about her, that is for certain.

      • magpie says:

        “Let’s face it, as Miley ages, the lust for her will die out, there is no denying that. If she relies on that as a sole way of gaining attention, she will not endure.”

        She’s not trying to get male lust imo. It’s the way she’s promoting her record now, but she’s 20 years old and has plenty of time to do something else later.

        “Maybe she should say she was inspired by the Kardashians and be honest.”

        THIS I agree with. She’s using shock tactics and not real artistry.

        Again, Miley is gross…but whatever 🙂

      • Kiddo says:

        BS, Miley is trying to be sexy in that video. It wasn’t satire. She was embarrassed that people found her not to be in some of her performances, particularly that award show. She wouldn’t align herself with Uncle Terry, master of raunch and overly bright lights, if she wasn’t using sexuality to push buttons. Fine, but then that is what you are known for and not so much your work. Like I said, I mostly find her harmless, I’m not one who is outraged by her, although she may be damaging herself as a credible artist if she only relies on that. Yes, she is young and can turn in another direction.

    • Jennifer12 says:

      I think what Sinead was saying was that Miley is being provocative on purpose. There’s nothing wrong with nudity or sexuality, but Miley is being deliberately sexual to sell records and act in a way that titillates to sell her music. There is nothing pure about what she’s doing. Nudity, as in the way Alanis Morrissette did it, was thoughtful and meant to provoke discussion, not arousal. Miley is being sold by execs and Sinead is telling her to not allow it.

      • YuYa says:

        So what if she is using nudity to sell records. Beyonce also uses sex to sell records. She might be a bit more covered up, but she is still wearing essentially underwear in videos and concerts. Why is Beyonce considered “fierce” and Miley a slut?

        Miley is 20 years old, she’s a colt trying out her legs. Figuring out herself. Let her be.

        Sinead is coming from a place of bitterness IMO. She is not the epitome of a strong sexual woman. She is a woman who let herself be used by men and is now concern-trolling.

      • LAK says:

        BTW – Alannis MOrrisette was a pseudo disney star. She was a child star on the canadian version of the Mickey Mouse club called Kids Incorporated. She reinvented herself so well with that Jagged little Pill album that very few remember her past as a cheesy teen star.

        No raunch tactics needed, and Jagged Little pill is second to Michael Jackson’s Thriller in album sales.

      • Jennifer12 says:

        Like I said, Sinead has issues and many of them center around men. However, while there is nothing wrong with nudity, there is something wrong with saying- as Miley has- that other, lesser women use sex to sell their music or whatever, and she doesn’t, and she does. And sexuality is fine, but if no one is talking about your music, and everyone is talking about your licking hammers and provocative poses, then it is no longer about her talent; it is about the image she is selling. And it’s not a feminist or strong image; it’s an image that is conducive to titillation and arousing sexual feelings. When you see her sing “Jolene”, you are thinking she sounds soulful or that she does Dolly’s song well. When you hear whatever music she is putting out now, you’re distracted by the image she is forcefully portraying. Sinead has issues, but she never let herself be turned into a sexpot or used her body to sell her music and she let her voice do the talking. She wrote a letter to Miley to impart the wisdom of an older person, one whom Miley herself said inspired her. She just missed, utterly and completely, what Sinead was trying to do back then.

      • Jennifer12 says:

        I’m not an Alanis fan, but I do think she tries to be more thoughtful in her music and I remember hearing about her Disney/CA past. I don’t care for Beyoncé, either, but she is not selling sex. She just isn’t. There’s a line that you cross when you decide to sell yourself in a certain way, and Miley stomped right over it. It doesn’t make her intelligent or artistic, any more than repeatedly trying to act urban makes it true.

      • LAK says:

        You know what? Even the great MAdonna couldn’t sell nudity with her sex book and the accompanying CD ‘Erotica’ which are fabulous IMO. She had to go away and reinvent herself as a mother before anyone would give her the time of day again. What is Miley going to do? She reached for the gutter and not in a good way.

      • Jennifer12 says:

        Also? If you don’t want Miley slut shamed, then perhaps you should reconsider how you’re talking about Sinead. You’re definitely trying to shame her. And Miley certainly is trying to shame her, bringing up all of Sinead’s mental health issues. Point taken, Miley, but she DOES have mental health issues and YOU take drugs and try to be provocative because you want to sell more records. Ripping up a picture of the pope wasn’t the best way to get her point across, but she was young, as you keep saying you are, and trying to talking about sex abuse and priests, which certainly became a big issue in later years.

  49. Jassy says:

    Have you guys taken a look at miley’s new tweets about sinead?
    so rude.

  50. SFRowGuy says:

    It’s called Transference of Affect. In other words, they want to get banged so hard, that the sledgehammer is a manifestation of their desire.

  51. AmandaPanda says:

    Oh come ON – whilst I respect sinead o’connor, she is coming from a place where she is a serious artist who had a creative vision which was out of step with prevailing pop sensibilities at the time – so she did it her way and changed music history.

    What is miley’s creative vision? That’s right, she doesn’t have one – beyond looking cool and making a truck load of cash. So let’s stop blaming the “music industry” for this. She’s got millions in the bank – she’s not some poor struggling indie pop teenager who just wants her record made so agrees to show some skin in exchange for marketing spend.

    • Kiddo says:

      Fair enough.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      AmandaPanda, I love your user name!

      I DO blame Disney, her parents, and the music industry for selling her, and us, the illusion that kids are capable of safely navigating the sexual world of grown-ups. I hold the music industry responsible for the kinds of role models they present to children. (According to the Media Awareness Network, young children are vulnerable to misleading advertising, especially before age 10.) I blame the music industry for brainwashing and sexualizing a pre-pubescent Miley Cyrus and molding her into just another cipher to sell to our basest and most powerful emotions.

      I blame the corporate masters who, in their never ending greed, use the music industry as one of their many tools to cynically and systematically corrode children’s minds so they grow up to be perfectly conditioned consumers. I blame the music industry’s corporate lobby for blocking any kind of legislative protection from the early and pervasive sexualization of children. To protect young consumers, Quebec’s Consumer Protection Act has gone as far as to prohibit print and television advertising directed to children under the age of 13. We should do the same.

      “…in our social conduct or our ethical thinking, we are dominated by the relatively small number of persons … who understand the mental processes and social patterns of the masses. It is they who pull the wires which control the public mind.” – Edward Bernays, founder of the public relations industry
      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qiKMmrG1ZKU

  52. Jennifer12 says:

    As someone who had Sinead’s RECORDS (not kidding, actual records), I admire her talent and strength immensely. She’s also a total screwup who has allowed her need to with a man to run her life, wreck marriages (including her own) and has not really bothered to raise her 4 kids. She is, however, a terrific musician who did not allow anyone to sell her as a sexpot. All Miley did was cut her hair. She still poses provocatively and sells sex as her image, while saying she doesn’t.

  53. aquarius64 says:

    Brava to Sinead on her letter! She took Miley down SEVERAL PEGS with this. And if Miley is having a Twitter meltdown over it this was a direct hit. Dredging up Sinead’s documented issues is a desperate attempt to discredit a well thought out message; and sadly Miley’s proving she’s immature with her response to some inconvenient truths. Her PR team is probably encouraging her with her new hissy fits because Sinead’s bunker busting bomb was dropped two days before her SNL stint and five days before Bangerz is released. This latest bout of bratty behavior could backfire on her. If Miley kept quiet the letter would have gotten little notice. Miley’s temper tantrum is giving the story legs.

  54. YuYa says:

    I don’t know, I feel like this is a lot like “slut shaming”. If Miley loves being naked and sexy, let her. She shouldn’t be ashamed of her body or sexuality, and

    Sinead is making it sound like she should be. Sure, she could rest on her talent alone, but, maybe she just wants to express herself as well? Maybe she is super comfortable with her body? Maybe she isn’t doing it for men but for herself? Why isn’t she allowed to be naked and sing? Why is celebrating her body all about men? Why is she being called a prostitute?

    It’s just very judgey to me. There is nothing wrong with wanting to show off your body. If she were overweight we would probably be praising her for her strength and beauty.

    Sometimes a woman, which Miley is, is allowed to love her body. And sometimes it has nothing to do with men.

    • Ange says:

      Yeah it really does depend whose terms all the sexing up is on. I kind of get the impression Miley thinks she’s winning the race but doesn’t realise the fix was on back at the stables.

    • Jennifer12 says:

      Slut shaming is making a woman feel humiliated for liking sex or having sex or not acting like a puritan. No one is slut shaming Miley. There’s nothing wrong with nudity, but she is being deliberately provocative. You don’t pose naked, in wet underwear, if you aren’t trying to be titillating. You don’t repeatedly pose naked, making out with childhood objects, licking things, ass up in the air, etc, if you aren’t looking for people to discuss what you’re doing. What is MILEY doing when she talks about other girls who sell sex for an image? She’s doing the same thing, and trying to call it artistic freedom. You don’t pose for a d-bag like Terry Richardson if you don’t want to use sex as an marketing tool. If you want your music discussed and to be at the forefront, then you don’t put emphasis on your physical appearance.

      • LAK says:

        I quite agree. There is a fine line between art and trashy when it comes to nudity, and Miley is on the trashy side selling us sex to boost her image whereas Gaga is on the arty side because she isn’t inviting you to look at her as a sex object even if she is scantily clad.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      YuYa, I’m not seeing many here impugning Miley Cyrus’ character in sexual terms in order to embarrass, humiliate, intimidate, degrade or shame her for actions or behaviors that are a normal part of female sexuality. So, no, we’re not slut shaming her whatsoever.

      In this story and previous Celebitchy articles, I HAVE seen an all-round condemnation of Miley Cyrus for her unabashed contribution to the sexualization of children, to the sexualizing of children’s toys, to sexually pandering to an underage audience, to the minstrelization and othering of black females, and to the staged equivalent of midget tossing.*

      *Sorry for using such a gross term for a disgustingly dehumanizing practice.

    • Katia says:

      I don’t think there’s necessarily something wrong with having a sexy image, and I agree with your post above about Beyonce using sexiness to sell her image as well. But there is a difference between the two of them–it almost feels like Miley is out of control in some way, or like she’s just really clueless. This is backed up by some of the really dumb comments she’s made, as noted on other posts on this site. She seems borderline delusional, to be honest. I’ve never had the feeling that Beyonce was clueless, immature, or out of control. Miley reminds me more of a drunk girl at a frat party who everyone is laughing at behind her back but who thinks she’s awesome. Beyonce doesn’t come across that way.

  55. Gremlin says:

    Apologies if someone has already mentioned this, but in the picture with the marijuana socks, she’s totally sitting between some man’s legs, right? Maybe on his lap? I’m not pointing it out because I’m scandalized, she can sit on whomever she pleases, I just think it’s probably a calculated move. “See Liam, I’ve moved on! Hey tabloids, talk about my love life”
    Ugh

    Edited- oops someone already pointed this out. My bad y’all

  56. DanaG says:

    Miley is too young and too immature to understand what Sinead is saying. Sinead has been around the music industry since before Miley was even born and has had some great music. Something Miley doesn’t have. Miley is the one clutching her crotch and showing her boobs she could say no and she doesn’t cause she is loving all the attention. She doesn’t see what a joke she is and she is going to fall hard. Let her fall only way she can learn she has plenty of cash she doesn’t need to work and we don’t need to have her boobs and her tongue stuck in our faces everyday. We get it Miley you have boobs so do all women idiot!

    • Happyhat says:

      Miley won’t get what Sinead is saying until she’s the same age as Sinaed, when she’ll be like “Oh yeah…right…I see what you mean.”

      No matter, it will be a good interview where Miley can talk about how she was young and naive and then try to give advice to the new generation of youngsters who in turn won’t listen either!

      And so the cycle will continue…

  57. RdyfrmycloseupmrDvlle says:

    Well did you all see Miley’s POS response?? Apparently Miley didnt like or appreciate what Sinaid had to say and called her another Amanda Bynes and reposted some insane rant Sinaid had written in one of her eposodes.
    First Miley calls her an inspirated and a role model then when sinaid talks to her with caring and as a fellow artist Mileys reaction is to hit below the belt??? WTF??? POS in my book. Total moron.

  58. Jamie says:

    I personally think it’s incredibly ignorant for people to call disapproving of Miley’s behavior “slut shaming”. It’s just so inaccurate. If anything, the feminist movement should be enraged Miley is acting the way she is. Miley may be “owning her sexuality” but I think it’s just more harmful to herself and women in general. In other words, she’s not owning her sexuality in a healthy and productive way. I’m all for owning one’s sexuality, but there’s a difference between owning one’s sexuality and promoting the objectification of women. Miley’s behavior, like Sinead points out, really does just aid in increasing the sad presence of objectification in pop culture. Sinead is right on the money. Miley is being pimped.

    • Shannon1972 says:

      THANK YOU Jamie! I’ve been wanting to say this but couldn’t find the right words to effectively convey my thoughts. It annoys me that the term “slut shaming” is applied with such reckless abandon. It dilutes the actual meaning of the term.
      Obviously, I agree with you 100%.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      Excellent post, Jamie!

      We ARE vociferously condemning Miley Cyrus’ faux feminist ‘girl power’. See above and all over the net, basically. There’s some serious PR framing going on here of the resounding condemnation of Miley’s behavior as being ‘slut shaming, and I’m very glad that you and so many others are not falling for it.

    • d says:

      Agreed 100%. I for one am heartily sick of this “you’re just slut shaming” crap anytime I question something like Miley’s behaviour/clothing/etc. For real, you can be a freak in bed and NOT have to show it to everyone all the time. Good God.
      But this is good – I have been listening to Sinead for the afternoon and evening and plan to buy up her latest music. SHE is worth it.
      There really needs to be a discussion about feminism, woman in showbiz, what owning your sexuality really means, what owning your own self means, what being empowered really means, and what standing up for your beliefs really means, especially when people disagree.
      Miley showed her colours and ignorance with her comments, indirectly proving Sinead’s point.
      Arg. Back to “Sacrifice”…

    • YuYa says:

      Personally I think it’s incredibly ignorant for people say it’s not slut shaming when that is exactly what it is.

      She is owning whatever her sexuality means to her, and everyone is all clutching pearls about it.

      • Jennifer12 says:

        I think she is more of a pawn for record execs, but everyone is entitled to his/her own opinion. Slut shaming seems to be what people say when looking for an excuse for poor choices and/or behavior.

  59. Missykittens says:

    Miley is disgusting. In response to this thoughtful letter she twitters “Before there was Amanda Byrnes there was…”

    What a dumb cow.

  60. aquarius64 says:

    New stories about this: after Miley tweets about Sinead’s issues and made fun of mental illness, Sinead fired off another round at Miley for her stupidity. Sinead put it out there that her lawyers will contact Miley’s for the cheap shots about her mental illness. Miley tweets again, saying she’s busy with SNL and the album drop, but wants to meet up and talk. Team Cyrus must have realized the mental health comments were going to do more damage to her “career” than the VMA performance so this is an attempt to shut it down.

    Sinead for the win. Well done.

  61. Jordan says:

    It’s a well written letter with some good insight in it. But it’s coming from a woman who tore up a picture of the pope on SNL when she was around Miley’s age, lol.

    • Sloane Wyatt says:

      Really, Jordan?

      THIS is what Sinead was doing at ‘around Miley’s age’. (O’Conner was actually in her late twenties though.)

      Sinead O’Conner was protesting the Catholic Church’s rampant cover up of systemic child molesting and moving abusive priests to other parishes to commit child abuse again and again. At the time, she was universally condemned for even suggesting such a thing could happen and basically blackballed for having the courage of her convictions.

      Ironically, O’Connor’s act is all the more timely today, given what we now know of Pope Benedict XVI and John Paul II’s role in the Vatican’s tepid investigations into child sex-abuse allegations against Catholic priests. Lost in the furor some 20 years ago, however, was the performance that preceded the act: For her second slot on the Oct. 3, 1992, episode (her first song that night was her cover of “Success Has Made a Failure of Our Home”), O’Connor delivered a haunting a cappella rendition of Bob Marley’s “War,” which she tweaked slightly to address child abuse. You can watch that stirring performance, capped off by the infamous pope attack, below.

      http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bCOIQOGXOg0

      • Jordan says:

        Where did I misstate anything? Did she or did she not rip up a picture of the pope on SNL?

        Save all your righteous indignation for a post where something false is posted.

    • Ennie says:

      I am catholic and all that, I was appalled at the time, but now I understand where she was coming from, as attacking the higher person in a human institution (with even more defects back then).
      They had been trying to cover and minimize abuses that had hapenned, particularly in Irelad and a few other countries. The church acknowledged many cases of abuse and officially asked for forgiveness in recent years. Huge step for such a slow/ traditional institution.

      Team Sinead, BTW.

    • EmmaV1 says:

      Give me a break. Sinnead was just trying to cover her @ss from all the negative response she got from tearing up the pope’s picture. And then she was cowardly enough to not apologize (she doesn’t need to btw if she doesn’t feel it, I agree with that) but try to make herself a victim and ask “please stop hurting me”. Then ten years, later, it’s all “oh hell yeah, I love what I did. I would do it all over again”

      Attention seeker who twists facts. Miley never made fun of Sinnead’s mental illness and Sinnead’s response shows she’s not as mature as she tries to pretend to be.

      • Trillion says:

        Uh, apparently you haven’t been up to date on Miley’s response to Sinead’s kind letter. And perhaps you don’t realize that Sinead was right to oppose the pope for protecting pedophiles either. I admire her for not apologizing. She was brave, not cowardly.

  62. Dommy Dearest says:

    Miley’s response further shows how classy she is. I hope someone knocks her in her place.

  63. Ennie says:

    Oh, if miley makes fun of Sinead in her SNL participation I am going to ignore her as I should have done since she started this craziness.
    I really really hope that she threds this lightly, and if she doesn’t, let Sinead call the lawyers!

    • EmmaV1 says:

      And exactly what legal right does Sinnead have to sue Miley for? Twitter’s agreement states that your tweets are for public consumption.

      Sinnead saying Miley bullying/mocking her is the same as saying Sinnead bullied Miley by calling her a prostitute.

  64. homegrrrrl says:

    She meant to send that to courtney stodden. I’m certain now that miley got the memo. She’s not fresh off tne bus to Hollywood

  65. Walt says:

    I predict Miley will tear up a photo of Mickey Mouse on SNL.

  66. Happyhat says:

    Regardless of whether Miley listens, I listened and this:

    “I am happy that I made that choice, not least because I do not find myself on the proverbial rag heap now that I am almost 47 yrs of age.. which unfortunately many female artists who have based their image around their sexuality, end up on when they reach middle age.”

    Is spot on… The whole women fearing aging thing, based entirely on the idea that a woman’s worth is that narrow idea of sexuality only achievable within a minuscule time frame.

  67. Michelle says:

    I’d like to know whose lap Miley is sitting on in that picture.

    • Happyhat says:

      No one – they’re just some random man’s shoes Miley’s propped up in the picture, to be all messin’ with the public n stuff.

  68. Christina says:

    I don’t even have the energy to deal with how naive and moronic Miley is being. The only thing I have to say is, Terry Richardson is a disgusting slob. He takes the same style pictures of everyone. He is a one trick pony pervert. I don’t understand why so many celebs bow down to him, let alone even associate with him. He makes them look like nasty trash in every photo.

  69. caitrin says:

    Absolutely NO ONE here is “slut shaming” Miley on this board, and to those misguided few who keep insisting that they are, I suggest that you actually READ the others’ comments. Nor is O’Conner attempting to “slut shame” Miley in the slightest; she is actually doing the reverse: pointing out the shameful behavior not of Miley but of those (mostly men) in the music industry who are selling her out by encouraging her portrayal of herself as being ONLY a sexual, sexually objectified young female body, nothing more. Absolutely NO ONE—not O’Conner or the commentators on Celebitchy–has made a single “slut shaming” remark, so if you want to keep on self righteously condemning people for doing so, I suggest you find another board–one where this “shaming” is actually OCCURING, so that your condemnation of it will be relevant.