Miley Cyrus covers the September issue of Elle UK (just in time) to promote tonight’s gig at the VMAs. Her team always has impeccable scheduling for events and releases. I’ll get to the Elle excerpts in a bit. Anticipation is building for tonight’s VMAs, which hasn’t ever been the case for any other host. Offhand, can you remember who hosted any previous years? Russell Brand did it a few years (and joked about stealing the Jonas Bros’ purity rings), but I’d have to google to recall anyone else who took the gig. Miley did a Tumblr Q&A on Friday, and she promised, “Dis gonna be da craziest vmazzzz of allllll herstory! Miley promised a very important cameo, and I sure hope it’s not Robin Thicke.
First, a quick followup to Friday’s New York Times interview where Miley called out Nicki Minaj’s VMA complaints as “angry,” “not polite,” and “you made it about you.” The Daily Beast published an excellent rebuttal by Stereo Williams, who is brilliant. He dissects Miley’s whitesplaining about race like this: “In attempting to prove she’s aware, Miley proves she’s completely lacking in self-awareness.” There’s plenty more, including this:
Maybe Nicki Minaj had a point, Miley. Maybe if you were honest about your own appropriation and privilege, as opposed to denouncing her “tone,” you would’ve caught it.
Cyrus’s thought process is indicative of the left-leaning millennial racism; the “I get it, but…” racism. A white pop star who accessorizes blackness shouldn’t be so quick to tell a black artist how they should talk about racism. Maybe Miley Cyrus has heard the criticism, but she definitely hasn’’ listened to it. Maybe she should. And both she and Swift have exhibited behavior that indicates that they are typical of many white feminists who refuse to face the way they’ve used feminism to mute the specific grievances of black women. Cyrus seems to be evolving out of her trash-rap fetish into more pseudo-punk rock chic. It’s hard to imagine her asking Patti Smith or Debbie Harry to be “polite” as they fought their way through rock’s boys’ club. From Amy Schumer to Hillary Clinton, white women who speak their minds are seen as heroes, while black women are stereotyped as angry just because they don’t accept silencing as “solidarity.” Black women shouldn’t have to be “nice” to be heard.
[From The Daily Beast]
I have nothing to add to Williams’ essay, except to say you should read the full piece. He’s always on the mark with his analysis. Miley may have experienced her own difficulties in life, but she can’t claim to understand everyone else’s hurdles.
More Miley stuff. Here are a few of those Elle UK excerpts where (after describing herself as “gender fluid“ a few months ago) Miley calls herself pansexual:
Why she works with homeless youth: “I was kind of embarrassed that I got paid money to shake my ass in a teddy bear costume. I should not be worth the amount I am while people live on the streets.”
Why she’s always getting naked: “If you get your tits out, and they are all looking, then you can use that space to say something and get them to listen.”
On her sexuality: “I’m very open about it – I’m pansexual. But I’m not in a relationship. I’m 22, I’m going on dates, but I change my style every two weeks, let alone who I’m with.”
[From Elle UK]
Miley says she’s not in a relationship, just having fun. So either Miley is finished dating Victoria’s Secret model Stella Maxwell, or they were simply fooling around. Miley also believes that her chronic nudity will make people will take her seriously and listen to what she has to say. Oh, girl.
Photos courtesy of Elle UK & WENN
Miley, you could also wear a t-shirt with a slogan on it. You’re not getting them out while walking down the street. You’re getting them out while in situations when people are looking at you any way. Or haven’t you noticed that men get heard while fully clothed?
Silly you! Let’s all get naked and play along to have a voice! Because otherwise nobody is listening to us.
Hmmm. I have a trial coming up in another week. Maybe, I’ll just go topless? Do you think the judge will pay more attention to what I’m saying?
Definitely. I really hope that there are no other women around so that it can be your time to “shine”. 😉
lilac – show up to court in just a bra like sue ellen mishkey, everything will work out
Maybe some of the republican candidates might start to catch Donald Trump In the polls if they got their meat and two veg out? Doesn’t bear thinking about. She seems quite a silly girl, but then she’s twerking all the way to the bank.
You’re absolutely right, but considering how messed up her brain is from all the drug use, I find it hard to believe she is capable of any logical reasoning.
Wait… Did she say something? I was too distracted while looking at her t*ts.
This +1000
I’m not offended by her attempts at controversy! I don’t think she’s done anything revolutionary where she deserves the massive amounts of praise that she gets. Like Taylor Swift and Emma Watson, I find their recent causes to be very self serving and narrow. It’s great that young people are standing up for feminism and lgptqi rights, but I am tired of the media turning these young women into martyrs
I’m sorry, but THIS. All of it!
I have a soft spot for Miley. But I can’t help that she is this outspoken/controversial because she gets so much praise for it. She gets turned into a hero, an icon. It makes her feel “enlightened” and intelligent. I don’t doubt that she can care about these issues. But it far more often feels self serving to her ego than genuine attention and willingness to learn about all these things.
Let’s face it-she doesn’t have a message-she just wants her t-ts out-
Give it up miley. No ones buying it.
^THIS. She’s already admitted in other interviews that she’s full blown rebelling against the Disney image that was forced on her. No hate for that, but that doesn’t make her an expert on other forms of oppression. She needs to learn how to listen and be and ally.
Frankly, I’m still in awe of the Hemsworth family for calling Liam home for a “WTF!” talk about Miley Cyrus. I wonder if there are still people who doubt Miley was ‘really’ working the pseudo-stripper pole on that ice-cream cart?
Miley is so ridiculous with this idea that anyone is listening to her, whether or not she has her t*ts out.
+1
No one is listening.
Go ‘discover’ yourself on your own-leave us out of it.
What’s disturbing is Miley thinks by fingering herself on stage she’s advocating for homeless youth and the lgbt population. And her parents high-five in the wings. Ugghh. Clueless.
To say nothing of that fact that really, in society today with all the idiocy around sex, nakedness, breasts etc if your t*ts are out Miley no one is going to listen to anything that comes out of your mouth. Sad but true. Put them away and find another way to say whatever it is you have to say.
I agree, she was off about the Nicki/Taylor feud, BUT it’s clear that she has issues with Nicki and she just didn’t want to support her. Not unusual and it doesn’t require so many think pieces.
well, at least she hasn’t had a DUI, abandoned any animals, egged any houses, or peed in the cleaning paraphernalia of any poor janitor.
but good god that is a LOW standard to live up to, and I’m glad the Daily Beast did not give her a pass on her attempt to tone police Nicki. If Itchy Areola (sorry to anyone who’s already forgotten who she was) was read for filth for using black stereotypes to market herself, Miley should be too.
Excuse me, she has too many dogs and doesn’t care for them properly, otherwise they wouldn’t bite each other to death.
As a POC nothing pisses me off more then liberal white people talking down to POC for stating their opinion. I much rather deal with a full blown racist. Believing your liberal minded or growing up in a liberal house hold does not absolve you from being ignorant. In fact it makes you more arrogant because you think you have it figured out and your an “alley” with POC therefore you can say stupid sh*t without getting checked!
I do not believe that Miley considered for a moment the implications of what Nicki was saying. Although I dislike Nicki’s music and behavior, it doesn’t take away from her point about race and the privileges or lack thereof depending what you Are
Exactly, Sam. You can disagree with Minaj and still understand that what Miley said was wrong.
@Sam, yes. The condescension is most grating. See Andreas S’ response to my comment below—a response to my sharing something about my life that I have the intelligence to judge well.
Yeah but whities get to have their say, too. And then POC get to call them out and have THEIR say. Or vise versa.
Often the opinions of some POC and some white people will be the same, often their opinions will be different, but nobody- nobody- should be told they can’t have a say anymore because of what colour they are or aren’t. Being any particular hue of human doesn’t make a person right or wrong, or their opinions automatically valid or invalid.
@Johnathan: It’s not that skin color automatically makes a person wrong. It’s that privilege can sometimes be either blinding or desensitizing a little bit, even if you don’t mean for it to be. Sometimes when an issue doesn’t have as much of an impact on you and the group you belong to as it does on a more marginalized group, there are a few things that could happen. The good thing that could happen is that you can learn about it and be an ally in speaking out against the problem and be a part of the change. But, there’s also the very real possibility that you may either not fully understand or even be totally unaware of it, and end up perpetuating problems that that group already faces, you could be slower to empathize with it, or, worst case scenario, you cold be a deliberate, active participant in the problem because your group benefits from it. There are other things that could go wrong to, like dismissively or ignorantly talking at or over the people you claim to support when they’re shedding light on their problems and their lived experience.
It’s not that white, cis, male, or heterosexual allies shouldn’t be allowed to get involved in trying to fix problems that effect other groups of people, or that they should never speak at all. It’s that learning and listening should come first- let people tell you what their experience is before you try to say, “that’s not what the problem is. Let me tell you how it is, and also try to tell you how you’re supposed to deal with your experience that I don’t have.” (Which is exactly what Miley did.)
teacakes, Miley WAS read to filth on the Daily Beast. And really well, too. Jonathan, white people have opinions, but POC have real life experiences and they are the ones living the reality. Sam and Marty, YES. I can’t with the uber liberals who don’t get that their first world views and lack of true understanding makes them come off as condescending. There was one on a Dre thread that kept saying she didn’t want to excuse his behavior, but institutionalized racism (her words) was why he repeatedly assaulted women. Women of color, by the way. And there were a lot of women saying the exact same thing. “Oh, we get it, the police are rotten to them and they have low self esteem, so black men feel they have to hurt their women.” Unbelievable.
If I never see that tongue again it will be too soon
I know it’s off topic but I think she looks pretty on the cover.
Miley Cyrus is done with black people. She’s already used our culture. She’s a hippy now. She can’t deal with all those “angry” black people who won’t be nice about institutional racism.
This – 1000 times!
Agreed Farah. Plenty of that going around now. Cannot tell you how many dinner invitations I have to turn down because it is clear to me the host just wants to add a bit of colour for the entertainment of her liberal/well-traveled guests.
@Andrea
Just stop.
@Andrea. I have all the patience to have this conversation. I am able to, because I have friends from diverse backgrounds– live in a very multinational/cultural city, live among them, went to school with them, etc.
My husband and I love meeting people. So occasionally we will dine out at the home of a work colleague and some friend of our colleague invites us to a party and we go and you look around and you realise you are not just the only black person, but you are the only minority person in a room of over 50 party guests. I always ask my husband how this is possible given the city in which we live. Also at the parties we always get what we call “the question”. Their friends will ask, with an enormously puzzled look on their face: “how on earth did you meet your (white) husband?” They are genuinely puzzled that my husband and I were able to even meet in the first place. I also hear at these parties that my parents must be proud of me for having come so far. After the party, maybe a day or two later, we will get an email that says I was a “success” at the party. LOl!!! Of course there is more “subtle” silliness too. Also this will have been the last time you heard from these people. So now my husband and I say we never accept invitations from any friends of our colleague. It has also occurred to us that I am always the only minority sitting at the colleague’s dinner table but professional relationships must be maintained at costs sometimes.
Now we are not talking about our (white) friends. Our white friends know bloody well where you meet people of any colour and how friendships and marriages are made among persons of different culture, nationality and race– same as any ‘ole relationship. They also don’t say stupid things that my parents should be proud I have come so far. So far from what????? And to what???
yes farah but when she is done being a hippy, she might want to be a rastafarian so she’s keeping her foot in the door
Well you can but at least 50% of the population won’t be listening to what you have to say – being too distracted by a pair of tits to pay much attention
https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=men+distracted+by+female+nudity&oq=men+distracted+by+female+nudity&aqs=chrome..69i57.10903j0j1&sourceid=chrome&es_sm=93&ie=UTF-8
The other 50% will know da*n well you got them out to sell records.
I don’t get the boobs out thing either. Most likely they are not listening to you but looking at your boobs. Find a different way to get your message through to people.
I think she’s saying that once you’ve gotten the attention (from being naked/boobs out), you can use that platform to do something meaningful.
Let’s be honest; none of us would still be talking about Miley if she hadn’t gone naked/topless, etc. Her first albums (when she was more wholesome) weren’t successful.
Yes we are talking about her nakedness, her outrageous displays, her fetishizing of black culture. But, what is her message? I do not remember any message from her turn at the VMAs with Thicke. Was I not listening? What’s Miley’s message today, yesterday, any day? Lots of smoke signals but no message. A case of lost in translation I guess.
@Saywhatwhen, I picked up a very clear message from her VMA turn with Thicke. I understood that young woman must gyrate around in their underwear, stick their tongues out, and grind their butts and crotch regions against fully-clothed men in order to be viewed as “entertaining.”
@saywhatwhen & lilacflowers: + infinity! i could not agree more
Miley you are a celebrity, why do you need to get your tits out to get people to stare and listen…? Don’t tie your lame arse attempts of been unique and controversial into a martyr pioneering for others. I think her style is so forced and mixed that it screams fake and not authentic. Lately she looks like rainbow bright threw up on her. Oh and what is pansexual..?
Way of topic, but this is the latest from Lindsay. She is hard at work, off her face and still spotting weird bruises.
http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-3215743/Lindsay-Lohan-writhes-deck-yacht-lace-panties-dances-erotically-Instagram-video.html
Pansexuals are people who believe that mashing your genitals against anything with vaguely human DNA is a new phenomenon, when a good chunk of Europeans have Neanderthal DNA from all that interspecies(!) boning thousands of years ago…
@ Tapioca,
Why would you answer an honest question with an answer so incredibly offensive? Educate yourself before you spout off ignorance. Thankfully the answer was set straight. Actually, pansexuality has more to do with the attraction to what’s inside an individual. Telling people we’ll have sex with anything , is just so sad on your part. I found being this way, you wouldn’t believe how ugly people allow themselves to get. And this has nothing to do with your looks. Although the ugliness you show on the inside, starts to reflect what you look on the outside. Sex in itself, is not the driving force.
Pansexual means she’s attracted people regardless of biological sex or gender identity, so not just cis male and/or female, she’s open to dating transgender or gender fluid people as well.
Wow. That Lohan video is … uhm… something. She is not even dancing. She is rolling on the floor. Is the the kind of “dancing” you are doing when you’re having fun with friends? It really looks like the kind of dancing you’re having when you are surrounded by johns.
That was sad to watch.
Lol so true!
Oh to be 22 years old and think you know everything about the world. So full of opinions that no one want to hear!
Or think that your boobs are that fascinating to others.
I’m 21, and it’s a really humbling experience. I’m a yoga teacher and a decently frequent Instagram poster, and I usually try to send out some kind of positive or uplifting message when I post. But sometimes, even very recently, I start to question myself. I find myself wondering if I’m just completely full of sh!t (like you said, ladybird, maybe no one really cares to hear what I have to say), or if I’m crazy for thinking I should be the person to speak about gratitude or positivity or what have you. I worry sometimes that I might come off like Miley has recently, like I think I know everything about everything and that I have all the answers. But I like to think that I’m at least compassionate enough to know when there’s something I simply don’t need to speak about, which is what I think Miley needed to realize before she inserted herself into the Nicki Minaj situation. There’s really no way she could have won. She could have stood with Minaj–and then Taylor’s army of Special Snowflakes would have come after her for not being a feminist by picking on Taylor. Or, as in this situation, she puts down Minaj and comes off as completely ignorant.
Sorry for this diatribe, but you touched on something I’ve been struggling with recently– so thank you. When it comes to my Instagram postings, I try to have faith in the fact that I’m simply saying what I feel and being true to something I really do believe in, while keeping in mind that there are times where I simply don’t need to speak. It’s a learning process, and I do think Miley is trying to do the best she can. Her heart usually seems to be in the right place. But as this situation has clearly demonstrated, she still has some serious work to do in this area. She’s lived in an insulated world, so it stands to reason that she hasn’t quite mastered the art of knowing when to just shut up and listen. For her sake and the sake of every minority group ever, I hope she evolves a little further and does learn to listen.
You could teach her a thing or two , no sarcasm. While I don’t think she’s a bad person, she doesn’t come off as a very good human being either.
Or, if you actually have something intelligent to say, you could you use your mouth and your brain. Miley might be surprised to find that this method works for a lot of women!!
Now, now, her mouth is for sticking out her tongue in grotesque poses, not for actually saying anything. God gave her boobs to speak with.
omg is that funny
I really find it hypocritical that Miley came with the “polite” angle considering after Nicki’s Anaconda video came out she started to wear a big fake ass on stage, sometimes even a brown ass. She was literally using a body type as a costume to make fun of it. It’s hard to pay attention to what she has to say on other issues when she’s so completely tone deaf when it comes to racial issues.
What? where? That’s modern black face straight up.
If you type “Miley Cyrus fake butt” into Google, the images will come up. Sorry in advanced.
I did not know this, WOW. I was defending her a bit before, but this makes me take pause.
Link to the butt in question.
I think maybe it got lost in the furore when Mexico got p*ssed off at her ~
http://jezebel.com/miley-cyrus-angers-mexico-by-descecrating-mexican-flag-1636268429
So incredibly offensive.
Do you remember when she tweeted the picture with all her friends and they were making slant eyes, and the ONE Asian guy in the picture wasn’t?
I don’t really get this, if she feels a woman can use the attention from exposing herself to say something important, why hasn’t she done so?
On a side note, does anyone know what exercise she does? Her figure is very yoga-like.
I’ve read that Miley does pilates and yoga.
She’s delusional if she believes that she has a message that is being heard. On the contrary, the fact that her boobs are always out is exactly why no one will ever be listening to any sort of message she might be trying to spread. Her career has become more about her stupid behavior than her actual talent and unfortunately it might stay that way. Miley throws around names like Patti Smith and Joan Jett because she sees herself as this new incarnation of them, but what she misses is that these women weren’t walking around screaming “Look at me! I need your undivided attention at all times!” What they did will likely never be replicated and Miley would do herself a great service to stop trying so damn hard to be like them in the worst ways. Miley lives for shock value and not only is no one shocked or impressed, the majority of people are tired of her bullsh-t antics and bored with her.
Last I checked, you could get your point across just fine without having to resort to nudity. Way to sell yourself short, Miley.
I remember when artists would use their music/lyrics to get a message across. Maybe it’s because I’m older but I find Miley and other young celebrities style of feminism offensive and disrespectful to those who genuinely fought for our rights.
Mileys brand of feminism is all about get your tits out and #freethenipple., When it should be about a big bigger picture, the fact that 2 girls are in hiding because they have been order to be raped and walked around the village naked. If people ( Like Miley) spent half as much time on talking about these poor girls instead spending time talking about #freethenipples , maybe then people might take feminism seriously. Its like to her feminism is about been able to get you tits out, not the fact that women are suffering all over the world !!
Yes to all this. #Freethenipple is pretty much the same as Open Carry. It a privilege that benefits the very few. Only a certain type of person can walk into a store with a weapon strapped to their back and get away with it. If anybody of a race other than white tried that, they probably wouldn’t leave that store alive. Free the Nipple is great for pretty girls in liberal western countries, but for women in many parts of the world, exposing themselves in such a way would see them being stoned.
#freethenipple & freedom from being raped are different degrees of the same thing: a right to full autonomy over your body, but the degree of importance is fundamental. You have to feel pretty safe in your own community to want to bare your nipples. So lets first make a world where everyone feels that safe.
it not that #freethenipple is invalid, but it seems like its not the REAL issue its not affecting us day to day lives, where about their are women being suppressed daily being raped and stoned and are seen as more of a product to be used at a mans will. the real issues is that most women around the world would care more about not being raped and abused and have equal pay then if they can post a pic of their boobs on insta. Miley and Taylor make feminism about the only issues that really affect them instead of seeing what it like to be a women in another country where they can not even get a education.
I increasingly find myself cringing at the phrase “white feminism.” In recent months, I have felt enraged to the point of wanting to incite protests every time I’ve seen news of cops abusing women of color, from teen girls at a pool party to a Sandra Bland driving to a new job (both scenarios I can identify with , neither one being specific to race until cops got involved). And then I read in indie media that “white feminism” hasn’t done enough. I’m not a spokesperson not do I have Miley’s platform, but I express my outrage to anyone who will listen. What is the appropriate response?
listening and not making it about your feelings would be a good first step. its supposed to make your feel uncomfortable.
I have no idea of the appropriate response either but I found this article informative;
http://battymamzelle.blogspot.co.uk/2014/01/This-Is-What-I-Mean-When-I-Say-White-Feminism.html#.VeMJySVVikp
apologies if you’ve already seen it.
This too;
https://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/their-eyes-were-watching-twitter-0000317-v21n5
I think the acknowledgement that as a white women you cannot have the same experience as a WOC and to recognize white privilege and therefore the specific difficulties resulting from having to deal with rampant racism on top of sexism is a place to start.
I have been screamed at and called names for saying that my place in these issues is to listen to and signal boost black women. (Which I still think it is almost all the time, except when someone says something factually incorrect.) You are going to get yelled at for keeping silent and you are going to get yelled at for speaking. No way to avoid it, but I do know that the only thing I can do is what I think is right, because at this point I have been screamed at for everything I do or don’t do. And after well over ten years of seeing communities I cared about ravaged by Winterfox/RequiresHate, I’m at my limit. (http://laurajmixon.com/2014/11/a-report-on-damage-done-by-one-individual-under-several-names/)
The fact is, infighting is easier than going out to try to change the people who have power, and it’s MUCH easier to smash down people who care about an issue than the Donald Trumps of the world. There is no one answer here, and no way to get through it unscathed. People can only try to do good and admit when they mess up, but this doesn’t mean allowing yourself to be a pinata for everyone who comes along and uses sj language to cover up their bullying.
This doesn’t apply to Miley Cyrus, who seriously stepped in it, but otoh the pretense that Miley Cyrus is some kind of perfect representative of white feminism is sort of nuts.
I just think it’s all about the accepting that inequality exists but is intersectional. So the appropriate response is to condemn it, bettyrose, as, of course, you do – because it’s an example of inequality at work.
It becomes inappropriate when yours (general yours, not yours personally) becomes the loudest voice, not the supporting voice; or when you attempt to foist your brand of solutions on the people affected. With this particular intersection, the appropriate response is to position yourself *with* the women of colour by standing behind them, not in front of them.
I think I just fell a little bit in love with you Sixer. Perfect response!
To be clear when people make criticisms against white feminism, we’re not saying everyone who is white and a feminist, we’re talking to those who claim to be feminist whilst only propping up white woman.
Thank you!
I also think this whole thing is a bit of an online bubble, if I’m honest. I’ve spent years upon years in “real life” activism for my own causes and as an ally in the causes of others, and while there are spats here and there, there is so much less of this self-defeating stuff.
Perhaps people (in this case, so-called white feminists) simply listen to the struggles of others better in person than they do online. And perhaps you get schooled more quickly as to what is your appropriate place in any given struggle if you do it in the real world rather than just shouting your mouth off virtually.
Thank you so much for all of these responses, as well as the articles. I reread my post and again cringed at the way I phrased my concern. When I first saw the news about the police assault on teens at a pool party, my immediate response was “WTF right does that cop have to touch a teen girl?!?” My thoughts weren’t about race. I really and truly saw it as a feminist issue because that man was enjoying dominating a young girl (who wasn’t being violent or physically threatening in any way). It was only after that that I saw an article criticizing “white feminism” for ignoring the issue (not misunderstanding it, but ignoring it). I’m aware of socioeconomically privileged feminism, which is largely white, but there were so many things enmeshed in this particular incident: race, gender, age, geography . . . that understandably I latched onto the one I most identified with, gender. I’ve been searched by guards a million times at events, airports, etc. (that’s just the high security world we live in now.) and it’s always a woman who conducts the search. ALWAYS. I truly believed that there was some sort of societal standard – or perhaps even law – dictating that men in uniform don’t touch women. Ever. I was wrong. And I reacted as a woman who feels protective of younger women. But I absolutely hear what’s being said about listening and supporting.
She’s 22 years old. We all said dumb sh*t when we were that young. Good grief. And if you didn’t say anything dumb then good for you. She still has lots of room for growth and change.
Sigh. I’m so tired of this defense. It feels like we’re coddling and infantalizing young people. I think Miley is absolutely in a position where she can listen and hear and most importantly DISCERN what criticism is valid and what is people just hating on her. I don’t think people should call Miley a slut, suggest what she should wear, tell her not to party, etc etc. But most people aren’t criticizing that. They’re criticizing the message she’s sending us. She thinks she’s saying one thing but it’s coming out dripping with her stupidity. Sorry with Miley it’s more tell not show. The way she talks about all these issues, it’s incredibly clear she’s uneducated about ALOT of it. So some of the criticism is valid.
Here’s another thing about being young. You can make mistakes without most of them being held against you forever. But don’t be so stupid and self absorbed to believe that some criticism doesn’t exist to encourage you to be better. Or that you genuinely don’t need it. Don’t coddle yourself. Have your fun but, take some goddang responsibility for your actions.
This is a ridiculous defense. It is also a defense POC are never given the benefit of. People need to remember that before they atart with the “oh but she is just young, blah blah blah”. Because those same people will never say that about a young WOC.
White people should shut up about black culture/black politics and never ever comment on it. Y’all will never understand so just stop. It’s embarrassing.
I like Miley, but this phase of her pretending to be some kinda social justice unicorn superhero is obnoxious af.
Darkness cannot drive out darkness; only light can do that. Hate cannot drive out hate; only love can do that.
The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy.
Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.
-Martin Luther King
Lmao a MLK quote? Oh wow such a typical white person response.
I’m African American.
Nice quote but I stand by what I said. White “allies” missing the point over and over again isn’t helping anybody.
Would never try to persuade anyone to change their opinion. That’s what make us all unique. Just food for thought for everyone.
I am a white person, living in a mostly white community (northern Europe).
So I am a white allie who doesn’t understand. And I realise that I never will understand. I am here to learn, support and hopefully help change things. If you don’t appreciate that, what do you want me to do? Not being sarcasc btw, I really want to know.
But yes I won’t comment on black culture/ politics because it isn’t my place.
To edit. When I see racism happening, I will definitely comment on that.
There is nothing wrong with being supportive of a movement when you feel that injustice is happening, but Miley is not the first white person that I’ve seen try to police the way that black people should go about speaking up for our rights. Telling Nicki that she shouldn’t sound “so angry” and come from a place of love is condescending, disrespectful, and deflecting from the actual issue at hand. It’s none of Miley’s business how we talk about racism. She’s white and she doesn’t get it.
Miley will never have anything to say that is worth listening to.
She is an idiot.
Miley’s commentary about Nicki Minaj was ignorant, embarrassing, and blind to her privilege. However:
“white women who speak their minds are seen as heroes”
This is untrue. A young white woman who was active online for feminist causes was recently raped and murdered for speaking her thoughts. Look up GamerGate: white women are being threatened with rape and murder there for having opinions about video games. And even Hillary Clinton, who probably has the most privilege a woman possibly can, is loudly and constantly hated and demeaned for being a woman who has opinions, and not only by the far right. Not to mention the day-to-day silencing of women, as women, that goes on constantly.
It’s worse for women of color. There is no question of that. But pretending that women are not oppressed for being women, no matter what other privileges they have, is a complete untruth.
And seriously, who is seeing Miley Cyrus as a hero? People are too busy yelling at her for showing her boobs to care about anything she has to say.
Hillary Clinton is a liar and someone who has put the nations security at possible risk with her selfish actions. Wonder how much money the poor “dead broke” politician has made sharing classified information. Apparently not that bright either. When asked about having her server wiped clean she responds “what, you mean like with a cloth?” If she was trying to be funny, she failed. If she was serious, she has no business running for president. She doesn’t have opinions she has an agenda and nothing else matters.
Uhm, Nicolette, Hillary Clinton was the target of constant hatred long before she was appointed Secretary of State.
^^^THIS^^^^. THANK YOU!!!
@Emily C.: I heard about the other cases you mentioned, but not about the woman who was raped and murdered for speaking out on feminism. That’s so sad. What was her name so I can look it up?
Honestly I just don’t get it. You have Betty Rose saying she’s (one of many) white women justifiably offended by the outrages against PoC, then BNS stating we can’t possibly understand the outrages so we need to just shut up. So what do PoC want?? There are plenty of white people who WANT to discuss rascim and find solutions, but then told nope, sorry you couldn’t possibly understand and make a difference because you are white. It pissed me off! Changes are made through empathy! A person realizes “Dang, that’s freaking wrong and I don’t want to live in a world like that” and bam changes start being made. Again, my question is what is it we are supposed to do?
I think there are two issues there. “White feminism” excludes the issues that affect women of any other color and serves to elevate an already (sorry to be blunt) privileged class. That’s not to say the causes aren’t important, but its Daughters of the American Revolutionlike ideals are exclusionary and oppressive in their own right. The other issue is the frustration people of color feel when their allies who are given a platform (white woken like Miley), severely don’t get it, detract and distract from the issue, and make matters worse. So they say, thanks but no thanks for your help. I think there is an openness and a need for allies in power (that would be the white woman’s voice) but sad to say, these celebrities aren’t cutting it. We need non celebrities, who really know what they’re talking about, who’ve studied, who’ve lived the cause and continue to live it, to get a platform. Celebrities are ruining everything for everyone because they are all so friggin’ thirsty and ignorant and self-icize every issue. Like Miley did when she tried to correct Minaj. That’s what I think is meant when people ask that everyone else shut up. That’s mainly meant for out-of-tough, barely post-pubescent and/or minimally educated overpaid celebrities.
@Pinkie – Did you mean to reply to my comment? You didn’t address anything from my comment except possibly “why” PoC are telling whites to shut up. You seem to be spouting that the only people who are saying anything are the white privelged and their opinions aren’t good enough, heavens no, it need to be someone who has “studied , lived the cause”! Nicki addressed white privilege in the music business, why wouldn’t Miley have a right to address that? All I read from Miley’s statement is she said Yes! Let’s discuss racism in the industry, but not because Anaconda simply didn’t get nominated for VOY award because that’s a slippery slope. Miley didn’t say NM’S point was invalid, she didn’t dismiss the true issue that NM was getting at, she simply said don’t bring the video in as a leverage point. I think it’s ridiculous that too many people feel any response by a white person is an automatic dismissal of their opinion/outrage/etc and honestly that’s ridiculous.
Kate: do you like to be told by men about feminist issues? do you think a man could actually contribute to a feminist discussion without making it about his poor feelings? just like white people are making a discussion about racism about their feelings?
it is fine if it pisses you off, thats nothing to what PoC go through.
just like men you’ll have to take a seat and face the music even if it feels unfair to you.
thats one thing that also gets me so angry with white feminists, no problem telling men the same things PoC tell white feminists even mocking their complaints but then get outraged when they are told the same when its about racism. its like “oh you get it…oh only when its not about yourself”.
again: listen and help with what you are told. just like one of the article linked above says:
“Being a good ally means recognizing that sometimes your input is not needed or wanted, and that it’s incredibly inappropriate to demand that a marginalized group, (in this case, WoC within the feminist movement) restructure a conversation that is happening to serve their needs, in a way that is more “comfortable” for the very people they are mobilizing against”
You’re right, the only solution and the only thing that’s actually going to change anything is when black people and white people can come together on the issue. When this happens, the people who don’t comply will be forced into the light and made to change their ways because it will not be tolerated anymore. This is how the civil rights movement made so much progress–because people came together. This is how the confederate flag FINALLY came down 150 years after that war ended. Because people came together and agreed that it was time to put it away and move on. I know this sounds all “kumbaya” and ideological, but it is really what works and everyone needs to stop acting like just because someone doesn’t have firsthand experience with something that they can’t be outraged by it. Whether a person is black, white, Latino or any other ethnicity, whenever I see someone being treated like sh-t in my presence I stand up for them, even if I cannot relate to how they’re being treated.
Miley has no right to speak on black culture because she is so guilty of misappropriating it and making a huge joke out of it. I can’t speak on her performances now because I no longer pay attention, but let’s not forget the VMA performance when she basically used black women as accessories and insisted on having only black women as backup dancers. She was quoted as saying about the sound she was looking for with her latest album, “I want urban, I just want something that feels black.” She should be publicly shamed for her horrifying antics like wearing a fake butt and making comments referring to herself as “acting black.” WTF does that even mean?
As for Nicki Minaj and racism, I’m digressing, but Azealia Banks hit the nail on the head when she made her comments about Nicki’s wax figure. I don’t care what anyone says, they never would’ve made a white wax figure on all fours. I don’t want to hear the defense that it’s based on the anaconda video because there were other ways they could’ve depicted her. That wax figure is now being protected by bodyguards because men and women have been walking up to it and taking all sorts of sexually suggestive pictures. Nicki might’ve said she was OK with it and loved it and it’s great that she was so appreciative to receive the “honor” of being made a wax figure, but she deserves better than what they gave her.
While I think you make a lot of valid points you and Azealia Banks should check out Kilye Magnog wax fighter.
http://wwwc.aftonbladet.se/nyheter/0207/23/kylie2.jpg
You are supposed to listen, truly hear, and respect the point of view from people who are actually living it. Not, as Miley did, say to talk like a nice girl. Because Miley herself has railed against Disney, against Sinead O’Connor for gently telling her she’s a tool of powerful men in the industry, and for anyone who calls her out for things like making slant eyes in a photo with an uncomfortable looking Asian man. Miley is a 1st world feminist, blind to the problems women face, like the terrified women who are being raped and paraded nude because their brother ran away with a woman. Or the man who tried to unionize the slave labor in his country, and his daughters were punished with being dragged out and stripped and paraded. Stop with the Terry Richardson view of powerful women, and be a true feminist that helps other women.
Oh yes, you can say something, all right: “Look at my t**s! And give me a movie!” Or “Look at my t**s! Aren’t they great?!” Or “Look at my t**s! Women don’t need personal boundaries if they can still make a buck off their looks!”
“LOOK AT MY TITS! WOMEN DON’T NEED PERSONAL BOUNDARIES if they can still make a buck off of their looks.”
You may not realize it, but the two ideas that 1.) Shirtless men- whether they’re regular dudes on the street or Hollywood male sex symbols- are fine, but that women who do the same are demonstrating a lack of personal boundaries, and 2.) that a woman’s boundaries only exist if she’s covered up- are both part of a problem, not solution.
Last month we did VIP seating (thanks to my lovely boss) in Disneyland for a nighttime show and she was seated with our group with a Disney VIP escort and some friends. She was so full of herself, looking around to see who was looking at her and then getting angry when someone took a picture. She’s about as interesting as watching paint dry and she dresses like a hobo.
If women have to “get their tits out” to make a statement we haven’t come very far have we? According to this genius you must expose and cheapen yourself to be heard. How utterly ridiculous.
For all we know she doesn’t have much in the intelligence category and this is the best she can do.
Yes it is riduculous.
To be honest my first thought was rather pragmatic. My tits take up a lot of space when hanging out – there is no space left.
I get that Miley needed to distance herself from her Disney persona — she’s done everything she can to prove that she’s not *that*. But to me this current presentation of herself is as fake as the first, they are both commercial constructs. But I guess this is the case with most performers. And they don’t owe the public access to the real, private selves.
What irritates me about Miley is her claim to being real when she’s just jockeying for position like everyone else. She could have said something noncommittal about Minaj, after all it’s been weeks now since it was a big story. So to me her comments come off as her way of latching onto “controversy” to make herself stand out.
It’s better than part of what Chrissy Hynde just said:
“Come on! That’s just common sense. You know, if you don’t want to entice a rapist, don’t wear high heels so you can’t run from him.”
Wow! How disappointing. I liked Chrissy Hynde and was even considering checking out the book she has coming out this fall. Eff that now. She should know enough to not subscribe to that antiquated school of thought that was so popular when she was younger–that women and girls are asking for it if they go to a party and drink too much or if they dress a certain way. It’s inexcusable that anyone would still make comments like that in this day and age.
Crissy Hynde is repeating a common sentiment from 70/80s feminism (i.e. her generation). It’s very recent that the discussion turned to “men shouldn’t feel entitled to your body” rather than an emphasis teaching women to protect themselves. I mean, common sense, women shouldn’t stumble home drunk alone in stiletto heels, because we don’t live in a perfect world and crap you can kill yourself that way tripping on a curb, but in no way is wearing heels an invitation for assault. And people need to stop even implying that.
Why the effing h*ll don’t people just get the point of informed consent? if you are drunk, drugged, in fear, a child then you can’t give informed consent and it can’t be anything BUT rape. Jeeez – head desk, head desk, head desk….
I met Chrissie Hynde once. She was an obnoxious, rude woman – and clearly hasn’t improved over time!
I met her as well and that’s exactly how she seemed to me. Obnoxious, rude, and in need of a shower with soap and shampoo.
Bummer.
I have a very dear friend who worked in the music industry for years, he’s met all of ’em, he described her as “a noxious, arrogant, drunken b*tch” to that I’d also add she’s clearly a bl**dy idiot as well.
That is just so depressing, there are no words. She’s a Whoopi Goldberg.
Chrissy Hynde is a joke. I remember, I believe in the late ’80’s, her condoning bombing restaurants that sold meat. All while clad in leather. Such a role model she is.
Since when do ‘entertainers’ need to spread a message? You’re paid to entertain (and badly, I may add). It’s just pure narcissism.
Entertainers almost always have convinced themselves that they went into the biz to make the world a better place.
Amen.
Miley, you only say the same thing over and over again: “Look at me, look at me, look at me.”
you are redundant and boring.
Just shut it Miley; anyone with any intelligence won’t buy what you are selling. You are complete and utter boredom.
Spoken like a lot of potheads who think they are just so brilliant with their deep thoughts, but in truth have little perspective in reality b/c what they really are is just very, very, very self-absorbed. Oh Miley, indeed. She may mean well, but she has not a single clue of the harsh reality of what’s been going on for women of colour, esp. in show business.
Got nothing to say on this topic. Just checking whether my comment goes through. It hasn’t on another thread.
How about writing another hit to justify all the press you get? Wrecking ball was a few years ago now.
This girl is beyond dumb but because she’s been given a free pass by her rich parents, the music industry, managers, producers, fart-catchers, etc. etc. she has a completely overblown and mindless sense of her own importance and relevance.
Sure Miley, your tits say volumes about the struggles of poor women, black women, women who have been abused by their husbands, who have had to fight tooth and nail to put food on the table whilst enduring misogyny, racism and lame-ass comments from stupid, thoughtless people like you who equate parading around naked with feminism.
Put your f*cking money where your mouth is. Put your tits away, stop talking about them, stop exposing them. Stop posing in semi-pornographic photo shoots with Terry Richardson. Stop trying to shock people with your latest “persona”. If you were truly dedicated to using your money and fame to better women’s rights, you’d be down in the trenches working hard, not hardly working. Self-promoting magazine covers, interviews, concerts, do NOTHING for the plight of underprivileged women. Action does.
oh miley no. no no no. shhhhhh…. shhhhhh….
someone older and wiser must sit this child down and explain just some basic things to her. Just. Basic. Things. That, and school, she really really needs to go back to school.
*face palm*
Tragically, “Miley” is barely there anymore. I know that there are several accurate definitions of pansexual, since the whole idea is to be “open” to diversity. But, a root word has a meaning and and orgin. We can’t forget that Pan was/is a demon goat god that played a flute to hypnotize people. And before anyone says I am attacking anyone, I am not. I am simply exposing a demon that attacks people. Miley, and many other artists, are not in control.
Once again, it’s not always about black vs white. Give it a goddam break! People read into it wayyyy too much.
Nikki has a nasty attitude and Miley wants to challenge her to that. I say…lets give them the stadium and let them wreck each other up. By the end of the day, they’ll still be richer than you and me.
Words of wisdom from the august Miley Cyrus. Perhaps she will have “If you get your tits out, and they are all looking, then you can use that space to say something and get them to listen.” etched onto her tombstone someday.
SMH.
@Duchess, wow, you just made me realize that instead of that little pan demon playing its flute, it told Miley to ‘play her tits’, to ‘hypnotise’ people. Creepy. This girl needs to be prayed for because she is being preyed on. All of a sudden, gender-fluid sounds a whole lot better. Very sad
No, you can’t Miley.
1. If your t-s are out, all people are doing is looking at them and erm, giving themselves a ‘treat.’ No-one is listening to you,
2. Plenty of people are heard and listened to every day, women included, without having to remove one piece of clothing.
3. Even if people were listening to you with them out, what about when you’re 30, 40, 50, 60? Are you still going to get them out? Or will you be ignored? Can you only be listened to if you’re willing to get naked? Or will you be replaced by the next girl willing to get her kit off?
Style, class and dignity don’t age. T-s do.
Oh and Miley…what ARE you saying anyway?