Pop singer Miley Cyrus has backtracked on remarks that implied sexual orientation was a choice after the LGBTQ community slammed her for it.
Cyrus, who came out as pansexual in 2016, has been part of many projects that raise awareness like youth homelessness and LGBT acceptance. These include her own nonprofit Happy Hippie Foundation
However, in this case, it seemed like Cyrus spoke without really thinking about it.
Miley Cyrus talks trash, starts a garbage fire
The 28-year old Cyrus caused a ruckus online when she said on an Instagram live show that she used to think she “had to be gay because all guys are evil, but it’s not true.”
She said: “There are good men out there, guys, don’t give up. You don’t have to be gay, there are good people with dicks out there, you’ve just got to find them. You’ve got to find a dick that’s not a dick, you know?”
She then complimented fellow singer-songwriter Cody Simpson, who was with her on the livestream: “There are good people out there that just happen to have dicks. I’ve only ever met one, and he’s on this live.”
It didn’t help that the laughing 22-year old Simpson then responded with, “You don’t have to be gay,”
Cyrus had recently broken up with her ex-husband, actor Liam Hemsworth. She’s reportedly dating Simpson presently.
However, she admitted in an interview with Elle magazine before her split with Hemsworth: “I’m in a hetero relationship, but I still am very sexually attracted to women.”
Prior to that, she told Variety she feels “very neutral” with regard to her gender.
LGBTQ community to Miley: Excuse me? What did you say?
After Cyrus’ comment spread, a lot of people in the LGBTQ community criticized her for implying that lesbians or queer women can choose their sexual orientation or “don’t have to be gay.”
Lesbians, bisexual, and queer-identifying women usually face a very common prejudice that they just haven’t met “the right guy” yet as the reason that they’re queer.
As one critic on Twitter said, Cyrus’ statement pushes “a stupid narrative encouraging the illusion that it’s a choice and a flimsy button.”
Another said that Cyrus shouldn’t “perpetrate the idea that all a lesbian needs is a good dick to make her straight.”
A third called out Cyrus: “Don’t use the queer community as a stop-gap because you couldn’t find a boyfriend. People aren’t queer because they “gave up” on men. This is so insulting.”
Miley Cyrus explains what she really meant
After, Cyrus took to Twitter to explain her side, saying; “I was talking shit about sucky guys, but let me be clear, YOU don’t CHOOSE your sexuality. You are born as you are.”
“It has always been my priority to protect the LGBTQ community I am a part of,” she said.
Her followers also came to her defense, with one saying that “she has been putting a lot of energy and money for LGBTQ+, and has her own whole foundation to help homeless LGBTQ+, and openly talked about her sexuality.”
Another said that Cyrus was only joking: “Can you not? She was poking fun at how people joke about her sexuality. Just because she’s with a man doesn’t change her sexuality which she has clearly said before.”
What do think, dear readers? Yeah or nay?