Miley Cyrus rarely shies away from speaking her mind like a wrecking ball of candid truth, and her insights during a recently resurfaced interview are no exception to the rule.
In an interview on the Reclaiming with Monica Lewinsky podcast, the Grammy-winning artist reflects on the intense scrutiny she faced while transitioning from child star to a more mature performer. The clip has recently begun circulating again online, shedding light on how young female celebrities are treated when they grow up in the spotlight.
Cyrus doubles down on the double standards surrounding the hate she received for changing her image in an industry where 'WAP' by Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion was allowed to air on daytime television.
Growing Up Under a Different Rulebook
Speaking candidly on the 2025 podcast interview, Cyrus compared her experience to that of other artists who pushed boundaries off a cliff's edge.
'Like, WAP got performed at the Grammy's. I dressed as a teddy bear and got shamed. But Cardi B isn't for kids. She's not a child star. For me it was so hard [not] to go, "But, like, why is Rihanna not in trouble?" But it's because I was a kid star. It's like the babysitter went rogue. I was like a babysitter for America's children.'
Cyrus' point hits harder when you look at the extremely relevant example she used when musing. Cardi B and Megan Thee Stallion performed 'WAP' at the Grammys, a song that was far more explicit in sound and appearance, yet the outrage barely matched the volume. It is, however, worth noting that the Federal Communications Commission reportedly received over 1,000 complaints following the controversial 'WAP' performance due to its reported 'pornographic' and 'strip club' nature.
Given the success of NSFW songs like 'WAP' in terms of music charts and TikTok dance trends, it still raises an uncomfortable question. Why was one woman shamed for growing up on stage, while others were applauded for owning the same narrative?
For Cyrus, the answer seems simple. She was a former child star people were not ready to let go of. Zooming in on how the situation escalated, the 'Flowers' singer added, 'At one point, there was a petition against me'.
Her words point to long-standing tension in pop culture, where former child stars are often held to a different, stricter standard than their peers. When faced with two artists performing on stage in revealing or provocative attire, some viewers tend to be more judgemental towards the one who they've previously seen wearing a popstar wig on the Disney Channel.
For Cyrus, the issue was not about what she wore or performed, but about the expectations placed on her identity long after she had outgrown it.
The Backlash That Tried to Shut Her Down
The petition Cyrus referenced was not a passing moment of criticism. It was part of broader, highly organised backlash following her 2013 MTV Video Music Awards performance.
During that era, conservative advocacy groups including One Million Moms launched campaigns urging networks and regulators to distance themselves from the singer. Calls to boycott her appearances and remove her from television framed her as a threat to family-friendly media, turning a performance into a full-scale cultural flashpoint.
In hindsight, it speaks volumes on how quickly public perception can shapeshift when a young artist attempts to redefine themselves. While the former Disney star is highly vocal about her fondness for her era as Hannah Montana, she has definitely come a long way since rocking sparkly jackets and yellow combat boots.
The Rebranding of Miley Cyrus: From Public Scrutiny to Personal Freedom
Years later, Cyrus revisited that chapter with a clearer sense of self. In the same conversation, she speaks about the emotional cost of growing up in the spotlight, from the legacy of Hannah Montana to unlearning the shame attached to her earlier reinvention.
The renewed attention around the interview suggests that audiences are still grappling with the same questions Cyrus raised years ago. Who gets to evolve freely in the public eye, and who gets punished for it?
One Instagram user commented, 'This is why Gaga said "Why don't we just give this girl a break from all the negativity!! Let her be! Maybe she doesn't want to be that kid star anymore"'.
Another added a dual perspective into the mix, 'I remember this. She knows it was a lot more than her dressing like a Teddy Bear. The petitions against her at that time, was definitely overkill though', while someone else highlighted the bigger picture, 'The entire conservative world melted down about WAP but I do agree that Miley had a specific lane of hate.'
For many, this serves as a reminder that behind every viral moment is a person navigating growth in real time, often under a microscope that never turns off. Cyrus may have once been framed as a cautionary tale, but it is still entangled with the concept of accepting or criticising what is revealed when the metaphorical Disney wig comes off. In these modern Hollywood times, it still appears to be a challenge to get the best of both worlds.
