MTV has been criticised by America’s Parents Television Council (PTC) for broadcasting a provocative performance by Miley Cyrus as part of last night’s Video Music Awards (VMAs) live show.
During a medley of her recent Number One hit ‘We Can’t Stop’ and Robin Thicke‘s singles ‘Blurred Lines’ and ‘Give It 2 U’, Cyrus stripped down to a flesh-coloured bikini and was seen pointing at Thicke’s crotch with a foam finger before “twerking” provocatively against the front of Thicke’s striped trousers. Click here for a GIF of the twerking incident.
“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,” the PTC said today (August 26) in a press statement. “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?”
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In the statement, the PTC also took issue with Lady Gaga‘s performance of ‘Applause’ at the awards bash in New York City last night (August 25), saying: “How is it appropriate for children to watch Lady Gaga strip down to a bikini in the opening act?” In addition, the PTC called out MTV for showing adverts for a condom brand and an R-rated movie during the first commercial break of the broadcast.
Last night’s VMAs live show, which also featured performances from Kanye West, Katy Perry and Justin Timberlake and a reunited ‘N Sync, as well as a rare public appearance by Daft Punk, began at 9pm on both coasts of the US.
On its website, the PTC describes itself as a “non-partisan education organisation advocating responsible entertainment”. Earlier this year, it criticised MTV for broadcasting an episode of Ke$ha‘s reality TV series Ke$ha: My Crazy Beautiful Life in which the singer is seen drinking a bottle of her own urine.