Who's Parenting in Hollywood?

Posted on 2:42 AM | By povsry | In


Joanne

After seeing the recent Vanity Fair cover with Milie Cyrus, I think it’s time to remind Hollywood parents of appropriate 15 year old girl old behavior. It’s disturbing to think of any 15 year old minor being positioned as a sex symbol on a magazine distributed to adults. And it’s even more upsetting to imagine our eleven and twelve year old daughters aspiring for similar attention.

However, I’m sure it’s difficult to keep things in perspective in Hollywood.

As I live my non-celebrated life in New York City, it’s easy for me to be outraged by the semi-nude photos. After all, I’ve never received a phone call from the powerful Vanity Fair Editor, Grayden Carter, requesting my child to grace his magazine cover as well as be photographed by the infamous Annie Lebowitz.

Milie is obviously NOT calling the shots here. Her parents who were part of the photoshoot and the magazine editors are making decisions on her behalf. Even if we assume that she is remarkably comfortable with her body, she has yet to come to terms with her sexuality. I’m sorry, no young girl can handle being a national sex symbol at only 15. Who is responsible? Her faded rock star parents or the greedy magazine editors? Both.

As Annie Lebowitz defensively stated that both Milie and she agreed on the cover pose after looking through fashion magazines for inspiration. Yet, I find it hard to believe that someone as creative as Lebowitz, she could find no other cover option (that was more age appropriate)! And Annie, as most parents would agree, teenagers typically do NOT make the wisest choices at this age and are often lured by what they (or you) think is “cool and hip” versus what is best for them. And to quote Milie, "...you can’t say no to Annie. She’s so cute. She gets this puppy-dog look and you’re like, O.K.

This is precisely why teenagers still live at home— under their parent’s guidance!

Kudos to both:

  • Grayden Carter, who obviously made the right decision for magazine sales, this issue is sure to fly off the shelves as many young and old virile men ogle over the sexy imagery).
  • Annie Lebowitz, who continues to gain notoriety with her celebrity photographs.

Most parents today would agree that Hollywood is not an appropriate playground for 15 year olds. I find it deeply offensive that it is not enough to celebrate a young person’s talent, but we feel compelled to make young girls sex symbols before they are old enough to handle it.

This isn’t a morality play. This is about doing right by our children and raising them to be confident, successful adults. How many train wreck young celebrities do we need to create before we take responsibility for how they act as adults. Is our society not capable of celebrating young role models who are talented and beautiful that reflect the dignity and innocence of adolescence?

Is our society not capable of celebrating young role models who are talented and beautiful that reflect the dignity of adolescence? Hmm. I guess, this type of imagery doesn’t sell magazines and that is more important.

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