When a 15-year-old girl flashes a hint of her green bra in a playfully naughty photo on the Internet, hardly anyone -- aside from perhaps her parents -- blinks.
But when the teen is Miley Cyrus, the face of the billion-dollar "Hannah Montana" Disney Channel franchise, everyone stares. The provocative images risk tainting the squeaky-clean image that's made her a hero for young girls.
For The Record
Los Angeles Times Saturday, April 26, 2008 Home Edition Main News Part A Page 2 National Desk 1 inches; 32 words Type of Material: Correction
Miley Cyrus: An article in Friday's Business section about provocative photos of teen star Miley Cyrus said 16 Mouseketeers appeared in the original "Mickey Mouse Club" television series. The number is 24.
Disney Channel has emerged as a powerful creative engine for the Walt Disney Co., producing lucrative tween franchises such as "High School Musical" and "Hannah Montana" that fueled sales of related merchandise, music CDs, video games and DVDs. In 2008, the Cyrus machine is expected to generate $1 billion in retail sales.
But the success of such enterprises hinges on youthful stars who do not always act according to script.
Last fall, for example, nude photos of "High School Musical" star Vanessa Anne Hudgens began circulating on the Internet.
The pictures had been sent to a boy -- but surfaced only after 19-year-old Hudgens was propelled to stardom portraying Gabriella, the chaste love interest of basketball star Troy Bolton in the Disney Channel movie.
The Cyrus images are comparatively tame. She appears draped over the lap of a young man -- the son of two songwriters on her album -- exposing her bare midriff. In another image, she tugs at her white tank top to flash her pea-green bra.
Disney executives acknowledge that the combination of celebrity and the Internet can magnify teenage high jinks in embarrassing ways.
"Being the most famous 15-year-old in the world is exciting but fraught with challenges and exceptional responsibility -- and the Internet adds a whole new twist to typical teenage life," said Gary Marsh, president, entertainment, Disney Channels Worldwide. "But above all, Miley is a bright, talented young lady who appreciates and understands the trust kids and parents have in her."
The pictures sparked furious debate among parents and fans online, some of whom dismissed the images as harmless, while others professed disappointment.
"At first, I had to be thankful that they weren't near as racy as Vanessa Anne Hudgens, but then I had other thoughts," wrote Mom2Three, who identified herself as a stay-at-home mom from the Kansas City area. "With her career being SO hot, and being on top of the world, why would she even take these pictures?"
