Billy Ray Cyrus On Miley: 'I Wasn't There When They Took The Controversial Photograph'

Access Hollywood - June 17, 2008 7:47 AM PDT

NEW YORK, New York -- Setting the record straight, Billy Ray Cyrus once again confirmed he was not around when his daughter, Miley, posed provocatively for Vanity Fair and famed photographer Annie Leibovitz.

During a new interview with Access Hollywood on Tuesday, Billy Ray said he was not on the set when his 15-year-old daughter wrapped herself in a blanket for the now infamous shots.

[ Access Extended: Billy Ray Cyrus On Miley - Play it Now ]

"I wasn't there when they took the controversial photograph," Billy Ray told Access. "I took my picture with Miley and then had to go catch a flight, so I wasn't there."

As it turns out, Billy has just finished shooting a movie in Florida and was scheduled to perform for the troops in back-to-back gigs in Washington, D.C., and Alaska at the time of the photoshoot.

[ Miley Cyrus - Check Out the Photos ]

But when Liebovitz requested Miley's dad be featured in one of the photos, he changed his travel plans.

"Annie had asked if I could be there for one picture, so I rerouted my deal and came into LA, jumped in, took my pictures, said 'Hello' to my family and then I was off to go play for the troops," Billy Ray noted.

[ All Access: Miley Cyrus - Young Hollywood - Celebrity Scandals ]

Following the shoot, which also featured a warm shot between father and daughter, a rep for Vanity Fair told Access Hollywood that although her parents did not have photo approval, they saw the photos right after they were taken and were pleased with them.

"Miley's parents and/or minders were on the set all day. Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley," Vanity Fair said in a statement to Access. "In fact, when Bruce Handy (who wrote the article the photos appear with) interviewed Miley, he asked her about the photo and she was very cheerful about it and thought it was perfectly fine."

[ Access Archives: Miley Cyrus' Day At The Zoo (1997) - Play it Now ]

So while Billy Ray said he didn't see the photo that day, what did dad think when he finally saw the shots of his daughter appearing to be wearing nothing more than a blanket?

"I thought it was a pretty cool photograph," Billy Ray admitted. "You've got to keep in mind you're talking about Annie Leibovitz. She's a very artsy person and that's what she does. I didn't know they were going to strip her down and wrap her with a blanket. It's just one of things, you know."

[ CMT Music Awards 2008 - Check Out the Photos ]

Following the shoot, and the controversy which followed, Billy Ray said he was proud of the way Miley handled all of the attention.

"I think Miley dealt with it really well," he told Access. "It was hard for everybody. Controversy is a bit scary."

In comforting his young superstar daughter, Billy Ray called on the advice he had once received from a fellow celebrity.

"We went for a walk a few days later and I told Miley, I said, 'Ya know, Kris Kristofferson told me years ago the turkey with the longest neck will be the one everybody will be shooting at,'" he explained. "She laughed about that and understood."

comments

show comments

comments

comments 1-10 of 845  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >|  hide comments · post a comment
  • shonka95
    She was still naked, I mean yeah there was a sheet around her, but still little kids look up to her, and that doesn't and will not change!
    report abuseposted April 7, 2009 6:34 PM PDT
  • kat
    i hate bill ray cyrus he just uses miley to get his fame back 1 hit song lame"achey breaky heart"
    report abuseposted August 22, 2008 1:03 PM PDT
  • twolittlewomen
    HANNAH YOU WHERE SO SWEET WHERE YOU LIEING TO YOUR FANS I CANT BELIVE YOU IT IS AFUL. IM NOT YOU Nº1 FAN NO MORE OK
    report abuseposted August 10, 2008 11:01 AM PDT
  • bhquell159
    Ewwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww
    report abuseposted July 23, 2008 2:44 PM PDT
  • All miley wants to do is be better than any other star out there.Well taking pictures like that isn't the answer.And Billy Ray you should be ashamed of yourself to let that picture go out in public like that!I know for one you have one less fan.
    report abuseposted July 11, 2008 12:36 AM PDT
  • All miley wants to do is be more famous than any other star out there.Well taking pictures like that is not the answer.And Billy Ray you should be ashamed of yoursef for letting that picture go out in public like that!
    report abuseposted July 11, 2008 12:32 AM PDT
  • Nikkie
    u shouldnt judge her with wat u all say, bc if u r a mom or gonna wannabe a mom and u have a female teenager then they are gonna end up doing something maybe worse. think bout jamie lynn spears she got pregnant and yet she still handled it well like miley so wats the difference?
    report abuseposted July 10, 2008 3:22 PM PDT
  • dibdawnkiley
    I Love Miley and im still a huge fan of hers. And no I saw pics she only had her shirt off wrapped in a towel she was sitting on a high chair.It might have been inapropriate but it's just one picture.
    report abuseposted July 9, 2008 7:17 PM PDT
  • emris cullen
    What do u mean that it wasn't wrong. it was sooooo wrong! I was Miley's #1 fan and then all of a sudden , in a flash it was gone, forever!I think that was a dumb thing to do in the first place... I am over the fact that she posed for it but i still think it was a stupid thing to do...if i was her I'd actually rip those photos up...man that was (whew)!!!!
    report abuseposted July 9, 2008 3:41 PM PDT
  • Goddess
    It's kind of akward to see her on TV now, because you can't help but find youself saying "why did you do that?" I never hated her nor was i a fan, mostly i feel bad for her. And i have no idea why
    report abuseposted July 9, 2008 1:56 PM PDT
comments 1-10 of 845  |< newest · < newer · older > · oldest >| 

Post A Comment

sign in to post a comment.

sign in

RELATED ARTICLES

RELATED PHOTOS

RELATED VIDEOS

Updates

Manage My Updates
Manage My Updates
More Updates »

omg!

MORE ENTERTAINMENT

ALSO ON YAHOO!

Help us to improve! - Send Your Suggestions