May I quote Meredith, "she is 15"!!!! A grown man having sex with girls under 18 is wrong but it is ok to take sexual photos of them for men( and women) to look at? I know a photographer who took pictures of her 13 month old daughter in just a diaper, she was fired because it was considered child porn. What is the difference and where do we draw the line? I think Miley Cyrus set a bad example.

I'm sorry but soceity is partly to blame for this and also, ms. Liebovitz. Miley is trying to be a normal 15 yr. old girl dealing with enormous fame. Her life is under a microscope with every move.  Sometimes the media is the one with the wrong thoughts and its time society get its mind out of the gutter. In Ms. L's defense she is a very artistic photographer.I still believe Miley is a possitive role model for my own 15 yr. old who happens to adore her!

I wish people would leave Miley Cyrus alone! What 15 year old reads Vanity Fair? As a matter of fact, who outside New York and L.A. read Vanity Fair? If the media hadn't brought such attention to this the average American teenager and their parents would never even be aware of it. This exploitation of a 15 year old by the media makes me sick!

This is absolutely horrible! I saw your segment on Miley Cyrus's pictures and I was absolutely appauled with your guests comments.  The man mentioned that it was good for Miley's career...is he serious?  She is 15 years old!  What kind of role model image is that setting for our youth?  He also mentioned that she is marketing to 7 year olds and that they do not read Vanity Fair.  True, however, parents do and who exactly does he think is buying the Hannah Montana stuff for their children?  Bad move Miley...bad move.

If she was 18, there would be no controversy, but for God sake, she's 15. Now, I know she acts more like she's 30, but she's not, and the parents are to blame. They've put her out there to apologize, and her Mom and Dad should be the ones apologizing for having such poor judgment. Again, she's 15. To a 15 year old, these pics probably did look way cool. Yeah, but old Annie knew exactly what she was doing. That's why kids have parents. Billy Ray step back and please try to put your daughter first, and not just the money making machine you're promoting, or I'm afraid we'll be reading about Miley's rehab in a couple of years.  

Let's be serious here...I am a mom of a 7 year old Hannah / Miley fan.  Am I offended by these photos, not so much, am I worried that my daughter is going to have sex that much sooner becuase Miley posed with a sheet over her, again, not so much...would my daughter have EVER seen these pictures, NO...I, like most middle income, middle america moms, don't have Vanity Fair mags on my coffee table, and even if I did, why would I show it to my 7 year old.  Now if this pic was in Teen Beat, we would be talking.  The only reason my daughter would possibly see these, is on the Today show when we are getting ready for school in the morning.  I think people are making entirely too much out of a photo.  Hollywood glamorizes everything, this photo is just another in a long line of the media making something out of nothing.

I think this is degrading for Miley. It would have been ok for an older woman. Its sad that Annie would do that to Miley. She also looks like she is on drugs.
Not a good shot at age 15!

I think the media just can't wait to ruin someone.  This young lady did nothing wrong. You have been trying to get her trashed for quite a while. Merideth is the worst, all she kept saying was but she is 15......she didn't want to hear anything but bad....evil woman ought to be ashamed of herself. Miley is a young lady in show biz and needs to move up a notch.  She is 15 and not 7 anymore. Jelouse people just can't stand to see someone get ahead. Maybe if the media took care of their own lives they could leave some peple alone.  Look at your own kids.

I think she is just another young girl getting too much too soon, especially too much fame.  She may end up being another Britney Spears or Linsey Lohan.  It is up to her which path to travel, but the problem is she is too young to know what path to take.

How disappointing!!! I've seen pictures of Billy Ray trying to look sexy while with Miley, (which is also disgusting) but to put this child in that suggestive pose is not what a good parent should do.  It is bordering on pornagraphy! Would you do that to your fifteen yr. old?

I have never seen Ms. Cryus perform but if she has talent then her career will not be over at 18 even if she had not posed for the Vanity Fair photos. If she has no talent then buffoons like the male commentator on your story will be able to keep her career alive as long as she is willing to live her life in the tabloids. Of course it is unfortunate that there are enough no class idiots in the U. S. to do that, but then there is no accounting for taste, or the lack of it.

Leo Schlosser

I'm 23...I don't see anything wrong with this photo.  What is up with you people?

Ohhh please.....no one said a word after she did  her little schtick with Billy Crystal on the awards show, and then went on to sing and dance....if you ask me, the way she was dancing was to entertain the men in the audience, not her pre teen fans. We need to look at who is guiding her in these decisions. Kids grow up way too fast these days, is the money really worth the lost innocents?

I applaud Meredith for her stand on Miley being just 15 years old!  

I do not blame Miley for the picture but her parents and the photographer should have known better.  I don't believe this will hurt anyone except Miley.  That's a shame.  

Just out of curiosity, has anyone looked around these days? It is unfortunate that the majority of 15 year old girls look and act this way. Maybe we should be blaming the fashion magazines and clothing manufactures for this problem. This is not a new standard set by Miley or even Brittney or Lindsey. It is a normal thing for 15 year old girls to want to look and act older. As far as I am concerned, Miley can pose nude as long as she keeps sending the message to our young, impressional youth to stay in school and set goals for themselves. Oh and of course-I know that there is more important national news that a reputable TV show like Today could be covering!

Kids all over ADORE Miley! With that, she DOES have a responsiblity to be a POSITIVE role model. I'm very disappointed in Billy Ray's poor judgement. You don't encourage your 15-year-old to be sexy without consequences. Big faux pas! Photographers shouldn't make moral decisions for minors...parents should..and MUST!

Unbelievable! The initial statements off his lips this am without even checking personally if indeed what he was prepared to begin the story with was factual involved:
Miley has 'raised the eyebrows of her parents'-when actually they initiated the complaint against the photographer and Vanity Fair to begin with.  And that Miley had been seen 'kissing other girls'-You have your nerve.  Check the photo carefully and you will see a cherry jolly rancher stick which comes out of the package at about 6 inches and she was photographed holding it in her teeth while her good friend did the same.  I have a 9 year old and this is perfectly normal goofy behavior.  As for the Vanity Fair shot, anyone looking at it can tell what a huge difference a muted filter can make in a bright and healthy shot. It can make anyone look like a drug addict which is exactly what they did.  That coupled with obviously staged 'greasy or party hearty hair' on that 14 year old implicitly implies behavior or an atmosphere Miley would never find herself in.  I am SO sure the shots her parents saw in the studio did not have the grimey and gritty feel the final did.  Photo journalism tells a story, and can be slanted in the same way a literary piece can, for sheer shock effect and to sell magazines. I know if it were myself, I would have trusted Vanity Fair implicitly that day without question.  Shame on YOU for not even looking at that supposed 'kiss' photo you so easily implied was something dirty and for not seeing a 14 year old in a normal tank top allow a fan to take a picture of her without the 'glam.  That is what she is all about after all, not your 'hype'. Coming from a Mom of 2 under 15 girls, I know you embarrassed her terribly when you aired those shots. Know however that there are millions of us, parents and daughters alike who support her and would be happy to have her as a neighbor. Shame on Vanity Fair and the photographer to have manipulated Miley with their reputation and for making the ONLY inappropriate decision that day-to begin and stage a photo shoot for a 14 year old that should have been for an adult hooker-and ALL to sell magazines.  I am disappointed in all of you-

This is all a tempest in a teapot!!  These are not porographic photos they are art photos - just want Annie Leibovitz has done her throughout her career.  And just another typical media-created frenzy to fill up the never ending hours of entertainment masquerading as news. I really don't understand the need to infuse all of these sexual implications into a photograph of a father and daughter and a photo of a teenage girl with a bare back. Really - everyone just needs to get over themselves.

I am totally disgusted with these photo shoot~pictures! Her father and mother have definitely crossed the line here to let there 15year old daughter to be involved in this kind of backless with a sheet photo~ what were they thinking?? I have a 15yr old daughter myself and as a parent I would of used more common since and rethink this move plus would have waited until she was over the age of 18 to be portrayed in this revealing way! This is insane to think she would even have agreed to this pose! Art can be beautiful without being so tacky! Keep you clothes on Miley....your a very beautiful teenager with your whole life ahead of you...There is a time a place for everything:)

The photo with her dad is cute! I wish I could have had a close relationship with my dad. Billy and Miley are close  and I think the media just blows everything SO OUT of proportion.  Media just back off and accept the apology, thats it. Stop going on and on about nothing.

Dee

Stating that Miley had been seen 'kissing other girls'-You have your nerve.  Check the photo carefully and you will see a cherry jolly rancher stick which comes out of the package at about 6 inches and she was photographed holding it in her teeth while her good friend did the same.  I have a 9 year old and this is perfectly normal goofy behavior.  As for the Vanity Fair shot, anyone looking at it can tell what a huge difference a muted filter can make in a bright and healthy shot. That and obviously staged greasy hair can make anyone look like a drug addict which is exactly what they did and it implies behavior or an atmosphere Miley would never find herself in.  I am sure the shots her parents saw in the studio did not have the grimey and gritty feel the final did.  Photo journalism tells a story, it can be slanted in the same way a literary piece can, for sheer shock effect and to sell magazines. I know if I were her parent, I would have trusted Vanity Fair implicitly that day without question.  Shame on YOU

Very disappointing photos!!! Children don't buy Vanity Fair so who is this 15 year old supposed to be attracting?  I also can't imagine my husband posing in a sensual manner with our 15 year old daughter!

I don't see why everybody is up in arms about these photos. Hell I can see young girls like Ms. Cyrus wearing just as provacative clothing simply walking through the mall, and if a bare midriff is so scandolous then why allow young girls to wear skimpy string bikinis.

I am just sick about this.  I had to explain to my almost-12-year-old daughter why it's wrong to sexualize this young girl.  Annie, you should be ashamed of yourself!  I don't care if the family/handlers got caught up in the moment and "approved" the photo - you KNOW this is blatant manipulation of a young girl that needs to be protected, not exploited. And we wonder why grown men ogle young girls - this is like putting a buffet in front of a starving man and telling him he can't eat.  Can anyone say "Lindsay Lohan" or "Britney Spears"!?!?! I feel sorry for this little girl.

Wow, what is the news coming to today? People need to get a life and stop crying over some "racy" photos of the poor girl. She probably wouldve exposed more in a swimsuit, but no, she had a giant sheet over her!

All I can say is, she's 15!!  Where were the adults in her life to guide her decision making??  Natalie needs to do her homework on teens!  Research confirms that the teenage brain doesn't function logically, teens are led by their emotions, which is why they need the adults in their life to guide them!  Miley isn't the only one who should apologize for these pictures.  Hello parents!  Time to wake up!

Vanity Fair strikes again. No matter who takes the photographs or who poses, Vanity Fair is the publisher and should be #1 in who takes the heat.

Although I consider the photos on the tame side, the bare back shot has always been the staple shot for
Bridget Bardot and others like her when nude photos were not acceptable in general. It IS suggestive and I'm surprised Billy Ray and her mom allowed it at her young age.

I find it a little creepy that Donny Deutsch, an older man, makes the following comment about a 15 year olds "racy" photos saying:
"Everybody goes home a winner"
"You have to take these baby steps"
"It's not horrible, she has a blanket on her, she has a little lipstick on her"
Almost sounds like comments from another NBC show..."To catch a predator".

Are you kidding me --making an issue of this? Well, we can clearly see how dirty the minds of the people complaining. Is that all you see? Shame on YOU!
Total jealousy --ppl that can't stand that a 15 yr old has already made more money than they will probably make their entire lives. All kinds of little girls are wearing bikinis all summer that are much less covering than that sheet, are they showing to much skin? Is it all about sex.  

I think everyone is absolutely overreacting. I was just watching Kathy Lee and Hoda talk about this and I can't believe how prudish our country is. One of the most esteemed photographers in the world takes a beautiful, artful photograph for Vanity Fair and that is seen as more risque than a you girl, in her own private photographs, showing her bra and acting flirtatious. I know that kids grow-up fast and that she has young fans, but the only thing she should be embarrassed about is that some private photos of her behaving like a teenager were leaked to the press.  She shouldn't have to apologize for art. Get a life people.

People give me a break. What you are missing is art. Only Americans would view this as any form of porn. She showed her back. It is legal to wear less to school. As a photographer, I respect the images that Annie captured. If you find anything wrong with these images you need to crawl from under that rock you are living under and see the rest of the world outside the prudes in the US. The reason we have a porn problem is because we make such a big deal about the natural body. A topless women is only taboo in a country of hipacrits!!!

This has nothing to do about being "prudish" or it being pornographic. This is about the fact that girlfriend is 15 years old. I don't care about role models, or any crap like that. I'm 22 and my main concern is that she seems to be going down the route of Spears; acting too much like an adult when she truly is a child. I wish people would stop making this a deal about "ooh, it's art, grow up!" or "omg its porn" when in reality its a 15 year old girl dressed in a way that is just inappropriate for her age. For all you who disagree, wait till you have kids, then we'll talk.

Thank you so much for putting that photo on air this morning. My children would have never seen the picture of their "Idol" in Vanity Fair, but you made sure they saw it on TV this morning. THANKS ALOT!!!
I guess I'm going to switch to Good Morning America.

It this is art..........then art is out of hand!!!!

Miley posed for pictures in Vanity Fair-an adult magazine.  Not Teen People or Seventeen.  This was to an audience who does not watch her tv show.  My children would not have even seen this picture if it were not for entertainment tv (such as Today Show).  Yes, it was probably not a good choice made, however, it is a far cry from Jamie Lynn Spears pregnancy which is seen as a non topic now.  Jamie Lynn is a young teen with a tv show still on and pregnant. To me this is a worse example than some bad pictures taken by a photographer who loves to shock people. I will still allow my children to watch Miley as a role model I want my children to follow.  I can discuss with my children 'bad choices' made, but it is easier to disucss inappropriate pictures versus a teen pregnancy.  At least Billy Ray was at the photo shoot-where has Lynn Spears been as both her daughters go through their own crisis?

Billy Ray Cyrus has very bad judgement. The damage is done, and he should be brought before a magistrate for this bad behavior. He is the parent, and he knew fully well that the nearly nude photos were being taken. Britney Spears and Lindsay Lohan were also DISNEY products, and their lives are nearly ruined. We all knew it was just a matter of time before Miley Cyrus would face the pressure, but in this case, her father is a part of it. Most parents do not see the naked backside of their daughters after the daughters are about ten years of age. Billy Ray owes his daughter a huge apology, and perhaps talking to a judge who handles juvenile issues would give him a wake up call. Billy Ray Cyrus should be ashamed. Does he think he is a sex symbol? Sorry, Billy Ray, you are first and foremost a father. Get a grip.

I am disapointed in your chioce as the today show to even run this story!  I watched your show this morning with my 6yr old son and 5 yr old duaghter as we got ready for school, like we do everyday.  I saw no problem with these pics, my children see more skin at the swimming pool. I was, however, appauled, and forced to turn off the tv, and send my kids out of the room, based on the discusion that was carried on by your hosts and guests. What dirty minds!!  How do I explain to my five year old why you are scolding this young girl and her father for having a picture taken together? Is that really so wrong? They were not in any compromising poses. I was very disappionted in your implications. I understand your choice to covor the controversy, whoever, I understood the news to be an unbiast respresentation of current events.   Are you really so insecure about your fanbase, that you feel the need to jump on the "bash Miley" bandwagon? Any child in america that looks at these photos, will see thier favorite actress/popstar, in some beautiful pictures. The innocence of children is not being lost by these pictures, its the reason they wont be negativly affected by these pictures.  The only people that would have a problem with these pictures are too corrupt to see the true innocence of them. Shame on you and your dirty disgusting minds!! Keep your insinuations and perverted implications away from my children!!  I thought morning television was supoosed to be safe for my children.  Leave this sweet girl alone. She is a fantastic role model for my children. She is not making any of the mistakes that we've seen other girls be driven into by the media. She has a great head on her shoulders, and she's not out partying all night, drinking or using drugs, trashing hotel rooms, crashing cars, there are so many bad things out there, she just had her picture taken with her dad.  If you havent learned from Brittney Spears . . .

I am discusted with Kathy Lee's comments this morning on the Miley Cyrus subject.  How dare she imply that there is something wrong with a teenager sitting with her dad in a photo.  I dont know what relationship she had with her dad that she didnt ever have pictures taken on his lap, but i wouldn't be bragging about it.  She is perverted, judgemental and discusting.

I keep reading these "it's only a sheet" and "I can see more at the mall" comments and think those folks are missing something here: Step back and really look at this picture.  She looks like she just got through having sex.  She's under a sheet, obviously not dressed, hair messy and lipstick apparently smeared.  This is not the message I think her parents want to send but they've obviously been led down a primrose path by those around them.  Take off the rose colored glasses folks!

The poor girl is embarassed and is forced to apologise to her fans for what?  The only reason these photos appear "sexual" is because we are made to look at them that way.  Why are we so eager to tear down the winners in society?  

This girl has a bigger problem than just Vanity Fair photo shoots. Posed seductively with her own father, she has what Ann Landers once appropriately described, parents with "oatmeal for brains." Not a happy future for her, I'm afraid.

By you having this picture on your site, you are holding and distributing child pornography based on her age and NBC and any other network or media should be fined.

it may not have been intended to be pornographic, however, she is only 15 and there have been a lot of people sent to jail for being in possession of less. The networks posting this picture all over the tv and internet is disgusting and no better. Maybe the networks should be fined and jailed as well. but i guess money does by you everything...free get out jail free card or child pornography laws dont apply to big guys.

I am at a loss for words for the first time in my life. This is a 15 year old child. A minor. I guess in the name of capitalism, they can say it is a work of "art". HMMM, a new form of kiddie porn now? From what I can see this legitamizes taking pictures of minors in a state of undress. Yes she had a sheet on, but it suggests that she is naked underneath. What is see now happening is pedifiles will say that what they are looking at is an "art" form.
I feel sad for this child being put into this situation. It is sexual exploitation, a form of abuse. She is not old enough to make these type of decisions. If her parents were not celebrities and wealthy I know that social services would be on this in a heart beat.
I know she had some pictures on line, but these were taken by her friends and children being children, they did a stupid thing. Unfortunatlely with internet it goes furhter then in the "olden days" of just passing pictures around the school.
I sit here just shaking my head at what parents will let their children do for a buck.  

Art?  BULL!!  If any ordinary Joe would have taking nude photos of a 15 year old, he/she would be in jail right now for child pornography, and so would her parents for consenting!!!  I will be greatly disappointed if the legal system does not step in on this one.  I hope Disney steps up too!

Ok I find this disturbing. Though it's not the pictures that I find disturbing, well at least not all the pictures. I like many other I'm not really comfortable with the bare back blanket one. What I am disturbed by is Kathie Lee's comments about the picture of Miley and her Dad. That it is some how sexual in nature. What is wrong with our society that when we see a father and daughter together that we automatically go to it being sexual rather than just what it is, a father and daughter having a close bond. Kathie Lee should be ashamed for making that picture seem dirty.

These pictures are disgusting!  As a mother of a 9 year old who adores Miley Cyrus, I once again have to deal with controversial issues. I went through this with Britney Spears, Lindsey Lohan, and most recently Jamie Lynn Spears (pregnant at 16)!  What a shame, what a shame!!  

I have about had it with Miley and her dad and their display of innocence.  Any normal parent would not have let this picture be taken. (her parents were on the set). Actions speak louder than words so stop throwing this family in our face telling us that this is a squeeky clean young girl. Like everyone else she is using her sexuality to get ahead.

Remember kathy lee and hoda live in a liberal city. I have a 12 year old daughter who was appauld at the photo. She looks like she has just had sex and rolled out of bed. What happen to those on your show this mornig forgetting about child sexual exploitation?! If someone took this pic of a child and put it on the internet they would be arrested because of her age. Shame on Vanity Fair, Annie, and ESPECIALLY her parents for allowing this pic to have taken place!! I hope her parents take a closer look or they will have a Lindsay Lohan and Brittany Spears on their hands! Hopefully this lesson will help Miley to start making more appropriate decisions for her career and not listening to others.

okay people. im sixteen and  im a huge fan of miley's. i think she's a great kid and really loves her fans. however i agree with donny. meredith and the other lady,ur being totally nieve. miley is a fifteen year old girl and yeah shes young but shes not going to be associated with disney for the rest of her life. the photos arent that bad believe me there are twelve year olds taking worse photos. yeah the one with the sheet is a little grown up but its only her back thats showing. by the way meredith those other photos that came out on the internet are NOT REAL!!! dont you notice that her head is in awkward positions each time. its all fake. the only pic that is real is the two girls with a twizzler. u have younger kids so u wouldnt know this but all girls play around with their friends at sleepovers thats totally normal. and all miley's biggest fans who are eleven and younger dont even read vanity fair so its not that big of an issue. so stop trying to make miley another britney and accept the fact that she is a teenage girl with a great heart and soon she will no longer be associated with disney which in my opinion is way easier on her. i will love her music all the more.

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