Is Miley Racist or Just a Typical Teen?
February 5, 2009 by Gayla McCord
Miley Cyrus is under fire for a recent personal photo in which she used her fingers to create a slanted eye appearance. That photo seems to have drawn fire from an Asian group. Take a look at the photo for yourself and see what you think.
For me, it simply looks like a bunch of kids just grabbing their faces to strike a quick pose for the camera.
After the controversial photo of Cyrus and her friends surfaced on the Internet, Asian advocate group OCA released the following statement:
“falls within a long and unfortunate history of people mocking and denigrating individuals of Asian descent."
Honestly, kids are going to be kids. I understand Miley is living in a glass house and that is her choice to be there – but since when is kids goofing off and making silly faces such a huge issue?
Let kids be kids for crying out loud.
Image credit: Bauer Griffin Source: Zap2it
I agree. I think people are making a big deal out of nothing. Kid’s have made slanty-eyes with since preschool.
Since when has that been making fun of any ethnicity?
I just think they’re blowing this way out of proportion.
It’s funny how all of them except the asian guy made the slanted eye face, the asian made his eyes bigger…it seems pretty racist to me
I agree with Nyah. I understand that the photo was not intended to be racist, it was stereotypical however. Miley needs to remember that she’s a celebrity, a lot of young kids are looking up to her and she’s just making herself look bad by pulling these stunts
@Kirsten: People are blowing it out of proportion? You’re absolutely right, kids have been making slanted eyes since preschool. Kids have always done it to make fun of Asians. You as a White American would not understand that so I do not blame you. Do you realize how degrading that is to an Asian American like me? This one picture and act alone is harmless, but when you add it to the long, and I mean long, list of how many times I’ve had people do this to me, it’s simply unacceptable. How about we all have some fun and dress up as Pilgrams and Indians. But wait, to make it more fun, we’ll have the Pilgrams acting like they are slaughtering the Indians. No, it’s not being racist towards White Americans, it’s just kids being kids. That’s what kids have always done after all right? Maybe that’s too extreme. We’ll just dress up and put on white make-up, wear blonde wigs, and hold report cards depicting all Cs and Ds. Nah, that’s not racist, just kids having fun.
@Nyah: Its funny how you are totally ignorant to the fact that some of the people are using their hands to deliberately force their eyes into a slant. The Asian guy has a surprised look and guess what? What happens when someone makes a surprised face? Yes, the people not using their fingers to spread their eyes could be making a squint, but the ones using their hands nullify that notion. This was deliberately done to impersonate Asians.
To everyone else reading this, I really can care less about the Asian guy in the photo. If he knew about it, then he is equally guilty and is equally lacking in intelligence. If he didn’t know about the photo, then he needs new friends. Whatever the reason behind the photo, it is plain and simply wrong. Miley owes a huge apology to her fans, not some ignorant comment like, “people took it out of context” and “I was making a funny face.”
Maybe we should just let this go. We should always condone these types of acts so that children, as Kirsten already pointed out, can always do what they have already done for so long. In fact, I hope my children walk around with black skin make-up and fake lips. Kids love dressing up right? I hope they also carry around fake bongs and cigarettes.
By the way, this picture would still be offensive if everyone in it were Asian. What can you do about ignorance?
I have to say that I’m embarassed by the ignorance presented by Ms. McCord in this article. I don’t even have to be Asian to realize that this was an offensive, insensitive and racist gesture used by Miley and her friends. Do lots of kids do this to poke fun at Asians? Yes. Does that make it okay or no big deal? Absolutely not!
If they put dark brown make up on and were sitting next to an African American making wide eyes, would that be okay? Not even a question!
Does this make Miley a horrible teen? No. But I know a lot of teens who have way better judgment and character than she has shown in this situation. And Miley, please stop using the Christian thing as if God thinks this behavior
is all good. If you really want to “honor God” as you say, own the mistake with true humility and sincerity and apologize genuinely.
As for the rest of you – esp Nyah, it is a pathetic reminder of the kind of ignorant and uneducated
people that reside in this country even after electing our first black President…so sad.
I totally agree with both Ashley and Leo. They both have summed up how I absolutely feel about this topic. Yes let kids be kids and have fun, but by doing something that demeans a race? I don’t think so.
I’m a 60 year old Asian American who’s lived in the US longer (52 years) than most of the readers. One of the most disgusting experiences I’ve encountered is when a white child comes up to me, pulls up the corners of his or her eyes, and starts stammering, “ah so, ah so”. Believe me, this has happened more times than I can remember. The worst part of it is that these kids actually think it’s funny. Right… just like going by a blind person and pretending to grope, or walking by a paraplegic and imitating a big limp. Is that all okay and just kids having fun?
Those of you who say that “slanting the eyes” is just making a goofy face and has nothing to do with making fun of Asians are just denying the obvious truth. For her insensitivity and callousness, Miley deserves all the heat that she is getting. Fine time to start growing up, and learning that making fun of others based on racial appearance is not condoned.
I was being sarcastic….I’m aware that it was intended. When I said squinted face, I can see that they’re using their hands to make their eyes appear smaller. When I mentioned the asian, I meant he was attempting to justify the others actions by making his eyes appear larger.
What are you saying, being a “typical teenager” is to make goofy faces that mock a race of people, and that’s okay ? 60 years ago, white people thought it was funny to put on blackface and imitate Black people, too! Was that okay ? Doesn’t say very much for the intelligence of “typical (white American) teenagers or stupid (white) people like you who defend them. You know what? The US currently owes about 5 trillion dollars to people who you think are okay to mock this way. How stupid can you get?
As for me, I’m going to support the 5 Billion lawsuit that’s been filed in LA. Crackers like Miley and you just don’t get it, so we’ve got to hit you in the pocketbook.
Ms. McCord, of course it would only “simply look like a bunch of kids just grabbing their faces to strike a quick pose for the camera” for you. If I am not mistaken, you are not of Asian descent (correct me if I am wrong). You know that Asians are frequently impersonated by other races through this “slanted eye” gesture, do you not? Heck, even Asians themselves do this gesture to insult other Asians because of stereotypes that the rising racism within the world is establishing. But without being Asian, have you had to go through this ridicule? I highly doubt so. If you ever had to deal with such insulting gestures, your first judgement of that photo would be “racism”.
Sure, Miley hadn’t intended to be racist and thought that these face poses were humorous…but be it joke or not, this face pose still offended millions. Miley should’ve apologized with a simple, “I’m sorry for offending anyone”. She didn’t have to say it was just a joke or she was just making “goofy” faces. Do you know what reactions will rise from this “goofy face” remark? Already offended Asians will become even more offended because they’re taking Miley’s words as, “So you think Asians have ‘goofy’ faces?” No matter what, such a gesture will always be linked back to racism against Asians because that is what the world has established. Miley should’ve known this. She probably discovered this face gesture through this and being so ignorant, she continued to act out these gestures as if it were nothing.
A typical teen? Okay, if Miley and her friends needed to make some quick goofy pose, why couldn’t they imitate a blowfish with pug eyes?
Sure that might be discriminating and making fun of animals but that’s a whole lot better than making fun of people part of your own human race–people that have the ability to speak, move, and live the same way as you.
“A typical teen” in a diverse country (e.g. the USA) would know that this gesture is meant to be an insult to Asians–and NO, it is NOT the individual Asian’s fault for viewing it this way. The way that this gesture was used by Miley has no relation to the potential offense this gesture can cause whatsoever.
Miley’s Asian friend might’ve not found this gesture to be offensive or insulting, but I never said that every single Asian would.
I am Chinese and I do not find her behavior offensive. I’ve had many people around me use this gesture as an insult towards Asians–myself included.
And rest assured, my self-respect as an Asian has not rotted away even a little bit.
I am a 15 year old teenager attending a diverse public high school in NYC and I’ve come to learn that the human race will always consist of many ignorant, incompetent, arrogant, racist, discriminative, impudent and plain stupid people that can be either conscious of their actions or completely oblivious.
Lastly to Kirsten and Ms. McCord, by saying it’s okay for kids to be kids and that making these “goofy” faces are just innocent kiddy behaviors that have been around since their pre-school days, let me ask you this: Is it alright for me to spray paint any building or wall as long as I’m doing it with no ill intentions? Is it alright for me to take my sharpie and draw on your garage door?
I’ve been doodling on walls since I was a kid, so it’s okay, right? Your garage door and that wall looks a bit plain so I want to decorate it a bit, it’s okay right? I want to draw on that door with my marker because it’s fun, so it’s okay right? It’s not like I’m drawing anything that is considered a threat. I just want to share the beauty of my artwork.
That scenario above is false but that scenario and Miley’s is exactly the same.
I’m drawing on walls because I find joy in producing this kind of art (and I think it looks really good). Miley is making that face because she finds it funny.
I never intended to vandalize and Miley never intended to be racist.
Get what I’m saying?
Joe Huang is absolutely right.
Mocking or imitating any gesture of a handicapped individual is the same as what Miley is doing. Miley needs to know her place in society and that is the peak of fame where paparazzis are tailing her ass every second. She was not forced into this lifestyle– she chose it herself. If she’s going to choose to be the center of attention in the entertainment world with her name and face and everything about her life being broadcasted internationally, she should know that there’s a large fucking responsibility coming with it. She needs to learn that with her role in this society, she cannot expose her amusement regarding a gesture that is a common offensive stereotype linked with insulting Asians.
Again, let me say that Miley’s zero ill-intent has nothing to do with her offense towards millions.
And AGAIN, let me say that it is not ANY individual Asian’s fault for seeing this gesture as an insult.
Don’t give me that fucking “Well, it’s the Asians’ problem for being so self-conscious when they saw Miley make that face. Miley isn’t the one making the Asians think that that appearance is an insult directed towards them” shit. Fuck that. It’s not the Asians’ fault that rude bastards in the world started insulting Asians based on their common eye charateristic, now is it?
I might’ve gotten off track immensely but whatever. I’m a kid. Miley is not a typical teen. Her behavior is not a something that kids and children typically do. Her intentions might be harmless but that’s got nothing to do with offending people.
If Miley was a typical teen, we wouldn’t be hearing her voice all over the world.
p.s. I said so before, but I’ll say it again; I did not and still do not find Miley’s behavior in that photo to be offensive. I can careless when such an action is presented to me consciously so why would I care even a little bit when such an action is presented to me obliviously?
Hey, check this out.
http://www.thesmokinggun.com:80/archive/years/2007/0130072clemson1.html
If what Miley and her bozo friends did was no big deal, how come the president of Clemson Collage is all outraged about this party with White students “celebrating” MLK Day by appearing in blackface? What’s the difference. African Americans do have dark skin, don’t they ?
Well it is pretty racist to me. I mean I’ve actually seen people with REAL slanty eyes. Being an Asian I take racism really seriously since there’s so much of it around.
This is not playing when you make fun of another race. She should not be teaching kids that. Just aplogizing does not make it right
I mean honestly… She should be careful! She should be careful! I wouldn’t be surprised if she ended up like Britney Spears or Paris Hilton. If she is a Christian why is she acting like a stupid immature teenager. To be honest I used to be a fan of Miley Cyrus and Ashley is totally right! You don’t need to be an Asain to find it offensive. I’m not an asain but I have a Korean friend so i get real pissed when someone’s racist. Yeah..these popular girls say I’m too pretty to be a friend with an Asain but honestly why do people judge people by looks? Its what matters in da inside.
Miley Cyrus action is a great insult to anyone who identifed as Asian (American) in this country. The stretched eyed gesture has been thrown at me and I’m sure many Asians in this country as an act of hate and intolerance. Her action, now made visible to children all over this country, suggests that it’s okay to express a message of hate. On one level, she refuses to accept the great diversity in the Asian American community, suggesting that we all have “slanted eyes”. This is the mentality that racists in this country resort to all the time. They threw this gesture at me when I don’t even have such feature. I love people with slanted eyes, my relatives have them, and I’m proud of where I come from. On another level, her action is damaging to many young Asian Americans that viewed her as an idol. I know my cousins are heartbroken to see this kind of behavior from someone they (used to) like. I will love to be part of this class action suit if someone sends me the proper forms. Asian Americans are small but if we let this type of behavior persists, it’d be lynchings and killings of Asians all over again. East Indians were murdered for looking like Muslims. East Asians were murdered for looking like Japanese. Racists don’t care which Asian group you belong, they all see you as slanted eye devils. Never forget Vincent Chin and what his death represents.
I don’t get where this ’slanty’ eye stuff is coming from… some Asians have saggy skin on their eyelids close to where the nose is… that’s all, a fold of skin. That extra skin doesn’t impare vision or make that person any less human than any other person on Earth. Is it cruel and ignorant to highlight this slight difference in a mocking way… sure. It’s only racist because of the context with the kid of Asian ancestry kind of oblivious to what everyone else is doing around him.
Contrary to what some people think, the Asian guy isn’t making his eyes ‘bigger’. He’s just staring into the camera, instead of using his fingers to spread open his eyes or put his closed fist on his nose to make it stick out and appear Caucasian… now then he would be racist.
Kids should be kids, but parents and society should teach them to be good people. Miley and her late teen – early twenties friends aren’t ‘kids’ anymore anyway, they should know not to be ignorant and set a good example to the real ‘kids’ that idolize her.