10. Miley Cyrus – The Asian Debacle
Miley Cyrus is a celebrity that doesn’t have to seek out attention in the press. From the infamous “foam finger” performance to her over-the-top looks on the red carpet, she has made a career out of being provocative. However, there was a time when she hadn’t yet shed her Hannah Montana persona, and was still navigating her way through the entertainment industry. During this time was when her biggest blunder took place in the form of a group photo that went viral.
When she posed with a group of friends making stereotypical Asian gestures and pulling at her eyes to force a slanted look, the Asian community expressed outrage at this former Disney star. Rather than acknowledging the hurt she’d caused the Asian community, Miley Cyrus released a statement saying, “It seems someone is trying to make something out of nothing to me.” She went on to say, “I feel like now that Britney is back on top of her game again, they need someone to pick on! Lucky me! Haha.” When the Asian-rights group, OCA, continued to reference the photo and the “apology” she released a new statement to try and finally put the matter to rest, but the damage was done, and she lost a huge portion of her fan base.
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