Cyrus photo flap much ado about very little

Teenagers are at a difficult place in life. They're old enough to gain larger responsibilities, particularly when it comes to making their own decisions. But they're not adults yet, so those decisions might not always be good ones.

They need guidance, but, wanting to assert themselves as budding young men and women, their instinct is to reject that guidance.

It's a really tricky time, for parents and kids. I imagine it's even trickier if the teen in question is a multi-millionaire with her own hugely successful TV show, a concert tour and a line of merchandise bearing her image.

I've been thinking a lot about teenagers lately in light of the huge media flap surrounding Miley Cyrus, star of the Disney Channel series "Hannah Montana" and some allegedly suggestive photos that accompany a story about the star in an upcoming issue of Vanity Fair.

For those of you who somehow missed the past week's Cyrus circus, let me present a quick recap: the 15-year-old Cyrus — a deity to young girls throughout the land — did an interview with the magazine, along with her dad, country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.

Well-known photographer Annie Leibovitz took a portrait shot of the young star draped in what looks like a bedsheet. Her back and shoulders are bare and exposed.

She appears to be naked, or at least semi-naked.

It's a photo that seems at odds with Miley Cyrus's image as a wholesome, G-rated star. Thus, it has made people lose their minds.

Before you could

say "media firestorm," a scandal erupted around the photos. The Disney Channel quickly issued a statement scolding Vanity Fair, and claiming that "a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines." Young Cyrus issued a statement through her publicist claiming she was "embarrassed" by the pics.

Not to be outdone, Leibovitz issued her own statement, claiming that the pics were "misinterpreted." The magazine also claimed that Cyrus's parents and/or "minders" were with her throughout the shoot.

So who do we believe here? Well, a caption that runs with the photo quotes Cyrus as being totally on board with the pic, calling it "artsy," "beautiful," and "cool."

Well, she's a teenaged girl, and they can change their minds quickly. But, I don't think that's what's going on, here. I don't think she's an innocent kid who was led astray by the big, bad media. First, judging from the fact that Billy Ray Cyrus was also interviewed by the magazine, and that he, too, is also featured in the photo spread, I tend to believe the magazine's story that the Cyrus clan was around when the photos were taken.

Second, Miley Cyrus is young, but she's not a little girl. I think she knew what she was doing. She just might not have counted on such a strong reaction.

My guess — and I could be wrong — is that she and her family were fine with the photos, until they incurred the wrath of Disney. Then, not wanting to bite the hand that feeds them, they magically changed their minds about the spread.

But I think the issue here isn't about who's right and who's wrong. The question is, why do we care? Why has this caused such an uproar?

Yes, I know there's a huge kiddie cult surrounding Miley Cyrus and "Hannah Montana." I know that the recent "HM" concert film earned a startling $31.3 million in one weekend. I know little girls love them some Miley.

But does the photo spread make her a bad role model to them? No. I honestly don't think so.

First, let me go out on a limb and say that I don't even find the picture that racy.

It's probably inappropriate, considering Cyrus' age, and the age of the girls she appeals to, but I would hesitate to call the photo sexual. In my (admittedly nave) view, Cyrus looks like a little girl who fell asleep after a long day of swimming — not like a woman caught in the midst of some naughty activity.

The photo is disturbing to me, mainly because you can kind of see the outline of Cyrus' ribs through her skin. Good Lord, why are young girls today so skinny?

But I digress.

As far as youthful indiscretions by teen stars go, this is pretty mild. Miley Cyrus didn't enter rehab at 13, like Drew Barrymore. She doesn't air racy videos or sing racy songs, like Britney Spears did as a teen.

She just bared her back. You can argue that she's too young to do so, and you're probably right. But should she be bathed in shame because of it?

No, of course not. After all, she is a teenager. It's a tough time. Cut her some slack.

Newsroom@ctpost.com Amanda Cuda can be reached at acuda@ctpost.com. Visit her blog at forum.connpost.com/turnedon.