Billy Ray Cyrus compares Miley Cyrus' topless controversy to a 'stomp in poop.'
Talking publicly about his daughter Miley Cyrus' Vanity Fair photo shoot for the first time, country music star Billy Ray Cyrus said he wasn't there when the most controversial shot was taken.
"I didn't know they were gonna strip her down and wrap her in a blanket," Cyrus told Meredith Vieira on "Today" Tuesday in New York, referring to the shot of his 15-year-old daughter taken by photographer Annie Leibovitz. In the photo, the "Hannah Montana" star appeared to be topless, covered only by a sheet she clutched to her chest. Watch the video HERE. (Comments about Miley appear about three minutes in.)
Though Cyrus doesn't approve of the photograph, which Leibovitz defended as "a simple, classic portrait, shot with very little makeup," he said that heeded his dad's advice on the situation.
"My dad always told me the more you stomp in poop, the more it stinks," Billy Ray said. "So I was just, 'OK, this happened. We got to deal with it.' "
And what about that other photo of Miley in Billy Ray's lap, which also raised more than a few eyebrows?
"That's just a daddy who loves his daughter a whole lot," Billy Ray explained, laughing off the question about the pose that Vieira thought made them look like more like girlfriend and boyfriend.
Aw, shucks.
What do you think? Did Billy Ray shirk his parental responsibilities by not monitoring the VF photo shoot more closely?
Photo: Miley Cyrus and daddy Billy Ray Cyrus at a press interview in April 2008.
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i think evevryone should get over it already! i actally liked the pics she looked ok!
Leave them alone. Billy Ray And Miley are not evil and have been taken advantage of.
people in the regular world do worse things!!! just because she's a celeb doesn't mean she's like a perfect person and doesn't make mistakes.
hey! miley looks like she is 20 when shes only 15, yeah she made a bad chioce but we all learn from our mistakes, i dont think she will ever do it again
GIve her a break she is 15 and pressure is getting to her. she and her father were taken advantage of besides we learned from our mistakes so she just learned and i dont think it will EVER happen a gain
why did you strip you have a lot of fans!!!!!!!!!! why???????/???
I think Miley is pretty normal and her parents have done a fine job raising her. Let's all just clean up our own backyards before we go pointing fingers at others.
Gimme a break, this was less risque than your average high school lunch line.
i know what miley did wasnt as bad as what regular people do, but that still dosent give her an excuse .my 2 little girls look up to miley and if she wants to be a good star she need to watch out on what she does.being a children star means you need to be a good roll model.she is 16 years old she a bit young to be taking pictures like that.
I THINK THIS IS VERY WRONG! SHE IS 15 AND THIS IS WHY WE HAVE MEN TALKING TO MINORS ON THE INTERNET ETC. SHE IS A CHILD BEING SEXUALIZED. THIS SHOULD NOT BE BLOWN OFF. HELLO WAKE UP AMERICA!