Miley Cyrus Explains Why She Took Back Her Apology For That 2008 Vanity Fair Photo

Ten years ago, Vanity Fair published a feature on Miley Cyrus and in one picture, shot by Annie Leibovitz, she posed with nothing but a sheet covering her chest. 15-year-old Miley apologized for looking less than wholesome. But 25-year-old Miley took back that apology on the 10th anniversary of the photo with a huge “Fuck You.”

Miley appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Tuesday night, and Jimmy Kimmel asked her about her apology take-back, specifically why she as so fired up it. Miley says there was absolutely nothing sexual about the picture when she shot it, and that her whole family – including an 8-year-old Noah Cyrus – was present during the shoot. Miley says it’s didn’t get sexualized until the media made it that way. Like that New York Post cover that read “MILEY’S SHAME” in big, bold letters. She says she’s got nothing to be ashamed of, because it’s everyone else’s “poisonous thoughts” that corrupted it, and they’re the ones who should be ashamed.

“I think the conversation has changed a lot, and I think something I really thought about was – you know, sure, some people thought that I did something wrong in their eyes – but I think it was really wrong of someone to put that this is my shame, that I should be ashamed of myself.”

When asked how that original apology came up, Miley says:

“I’m sure someone told me to, but you know what? That’s why I don’t do what people tell me to anymore. Because that idea sucked…I think at that time, I just wanted this to go away, and I think I also was trying to balance and understand what being a role model is. And to me, I think being a role model has been my free spiritedness and sometimes my unapologetic attitude.”

If Miley’s going to feel shame about anything from her past, it should be that time she crawled on stage of the VMAs in a packing tape bikini with the human representation of regrettable behavior, Robin Thicke. And if anyone should feel weird about that picture, it should be her parents. Although I’m sure if you ask Billy Ray if he feels any shame, he’ll answer: “Sure do. I’m so ashamed I never got the courage to ask Annie to shoot me topless holding only a satin sheet. Billy Ray needed attention too, you know!”

Pic: ABC via YouTube