When unbelievers cry foul, you know you’ve crossed the line.
Miley Cyrus took raunchy to a whole new level at the MTV Video Music Awards Sunday—and the talk of her stripping down to flesh-colored rubber underwear, ultra-obscene twerking and other erotic moves on stage with Robin Thicke isn’t dying down.
Miley’s perverted performance made Beyonce’s controversial Super Bowl dance look tame and Janet Jackson’s wardrobe malfunction appear rather innocent. Billy Ray Cyrus, the country music star and father of the misguided youth, was probably sick to his stomach watching his baby girl simulate masturbation in front of the masses. Billy Ray was scheduled to do an interview with Piers Morgan to discuss the incident but bailed out, probably still speechless and sipping on Pepto-Bismol.
Noteworthy is the fact that even the liberal media and fellow celebrities are shocked by the Hannah Montana star’s performance.
“That young lady, who is 20, is obviously deeply troubled, deeply disturbed. Probably has confidence issues, probably an eating disorder. And I don't think anybody should have put her up on stage. That was disgusting,” says Mika Brzezinksi, co-anchor of Morning Joe on MSNBC.
Brooke Shields, who played Cyrus’ mother on Hannah Montana, called the performance “desperate” on NBC’s Today show: “I don’t approve. Where did I go wrong? I want to know who’s advising her and why it’s necessary. It’s a bit desperate.”
Kelly Osbourne, a close friend of Cyrus’ and co-host of E!’s Fashion Police VMAs recap had this to say: “Look, Miley’s my friend and I love her, and I have her back no matter what, but as her friend, I'm going to tell her—put your f—ing tongue in your mouth! I love you, but just put your tongue in your mouth.”
About the only one who isn’t dazed and confused is gay American Idol favorite Adam Lambert. He tweeted: “And listen if it wasn't ur cup of tea—all good but why is everyone spazzing? Hey—she's doin something right. We all talkin.”
Yeah, we’re all talking. There’s an old mantra in the PR world that says no publicity is bad publicity. If publicity was MTV’s goal with the R-rated performance, the broadcaster can claim success. This is not new behavior for MTV. Madonna and Britney Spears’ liplock in 2003 was so shocking that it sent MTV's brand awareness through the roof. Apparently, that ratings boost opened Pandora’s Box. Just look how far we’ve come in a decade! Simulated sex on a program rated appropriate for kids as young as 14 peppered with commercials for condoms and ads for an R-rated movie.
Dan Isett, director of public policy at the Parents Television Council (PTC), may have said it best: “MTV has once again succeeded in marketing sexually charged messages to young children using former child stars and condom commercials—while falsely rating this program as appropriate for kids as young as 14. This is unacceptable.
“MTV continues to sexually exploit young women by promoting acts that incorporate ‘twerking’ in a nude-colored bikini. How is this image of former child star Miley Cyrus appropriate for 14-year-olds?”
Even sinners don’t want their 14-year-old daughters (or sons, for that matter) watching a former child star gyrate, bump and grind against an older man—or any man. But could God work this for good? (See Romans 8:28.) I believe now is a strategic time to battle the prince of the power of the air (Eph. 2:2). Think about it for a minute. Even sinners were shocked by this immoral performance and the mood could swing toward stronger policing of the airwaves to protect innocent eyes from seeing the likes of Hannah Montana getting dirty in the name of entertainment.
No one can legitimately argue with the PTC’s Isset when he says, “This much is absolutely clear: MTV marketed adults-only material to children while falsely manipulating the content rating to make parents think the content was safe for their children … This content would likely not be given a forum if it were on a broadcast network. Yet MTV continues to push limits because it’s a cable network. But that does not mean MTV’s decisions have no consequences, especially for the millions of children who were targeted by MTV.”
Isset is urging Congress to pass the Television Consumer Freedom Act, which will give parents and consumers a real solution for future MTV VMA programs—the ability to choose and pay for cable networks that they want versus having to pay for networks they don’t want. After MTV’s display last night, he says, it’s time to give control back to consumers. I agree.
“The Miley Cyrus/Robin Thicke performance simply substituted talent with sex. Viacom has a set of corporate broadcast standards that were obviously broken in this case for financial gain,” says PTC Advisory Board Member and former BET Executive Paul Porter said. “While the performance was shocking to the audience, MTV approved it during the show run prior to the broadcast. Heads should roll at MTV.”
Heads probably won’t roll at MTV, but intercession should rise to the throne. The devil always overplays his hand. MTV and other broadcasters have crossed the line one too many times. We need to battle this in prayer. We need to pray for Miley and others like her. We need to come against the spirit of Jezebel. We need to repent for allowing the enemy to take it this far on our watch. And we need to join forces with groups like PTC that have lobbyists on Capitol Hill. We need to stand up and speak out against the immorality in this land or a future VMA could show the next fallen child star all-but fornicating on stage for all our kids to see. Then again, I guess that’s already happened.
