Miley Cyrus’s Outrageous VMA Performance Shocks … Everyone
Miley Cyrus didn't blur the line, she straight up crossed it.
The 20-year-old's raunchy, childhood-crushing performance at the MTV Video Music Awards on Sunday didn't just elicit a negative reaction on social media, it has also riled the Parents Television Council.
[Related: 2013 MTV Video Music Awards Red Carpet Arrivals]
The media watchdog group issued a statement blasting MTV for "marketing sexually charged messages to young children using former child stars."
Relating specifically to Cyrus's crude stage show, during which she simulated sex acts at every turn (grabbing her crotch, sticking out her tongue, bending over in front of Robin Thicke, and acting inappropriately with a foam finger) as she pranced around in a nude bikini, PTC Director of Public Policy Dan Isett said, "MTV continues to sexually exploit young women by promoting acts that incorporate 'twerking' in a nude-colored bikini. How is this image of former child star Miley Cyrus appropriate for 14-year-olds?"
[Related: Gaga Who? Miley Cyrus Snatches Crown for Queen of Obscene at VMAs]
Paul Porter, who is an Advisory Board Member for PTC (which was also unhappy with Lady Gaga's barely-there shell ensemble and the condom ads that ran throughout the show), said, "The Miley Cyrus/Robin Thicke performance simply substituted talent with sex. … Heads should roll at MTV.”
Criticism of Cyrus's two-song act, during which she barely sang, wasn't limited to PTC – Twitter was on fire.
[Related: Top 5 VMAs Moments: Miley Gets Filthy, Taylor Gets Harry, Gaga Gets Bare, 'N Sync Barely Reunites]
Brooklyn Decker spoke for many when she wrote:
I'm so uncomfortable.
— Brooklyn Decker (@BrooklynDecker) August 26, 2013
James Van Der Beek was as uncomfortable with the foam finger as the rest of the audience:
Things I learned watching the #VMAs2013: There's nothing you can do with a foam finger that you can't air on MTV. — James Van Der Beek (@vanderjames) August 26, 2013
Bill Maher showed his trademark sense of humor:
Watching VMAs. Haven't been in a strip club in a while, but good to see nothing has changed
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) August 26, 2013
As did Judd Apatow:
I will always have this version of Miley. Let's live in the past and heal. pic.twitter.com/zMsEW2PvfO — Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) August 26, 2013
Any dreams Mariah Carey and Nick Cannon's young kids may have had for showbiz have already been ruined:
Watching VMAs. Haven't been in a strip club in a while, but good to see nothing has changed
— Bill Maher (@billmaher) August 26, 2013
And Arie Luyendyk Jr. touched on a topic many were wondering about – where exactly Cyrus's fiancé, Liam Hemsworth, was during all of it:
Liam Hemsworth is currently texting his ex-girlfriends and drinking in a corner #VMAs #MileyCyrus — Arie Luyendyk Jr. (@ariejr) August 26, 2013
Of course famous folks weren't the only ones commenting. Here were a few others of the most memorable tweets:
Two people who weren't shocked by what they saw? Cyrus's own parents, Billy Ray and Tish, who recently called off their divorce for the second time. Tish jumped to her feet and gleefully applauded her little girl as soon as the performance ended, looking every bit the proud mom. Meanwhile, Billy Ray was not in attendance (though he became the subject of a widely circulated meme) and seemed to be a in world of his own when it came to the most recent controversy relating to his daughter.
Thanking God for so many blessings tonight. Continue to pray for world peace. More love ...less hate. — Billy Ray Cyrus (@billyraycyrus) August 26, 2013