The Parents Television Council has condemned Sunday’s MTV’s Video Music Awards — a denunciation that, like the VMAs themselves, has become an annual event.
Immediately following the awards show, PTC President Tim Winter released a statement on behalf of the organization that criticized MTV’s agenda to “stir up controversy without regard to its impact on an entertainment environment that is increasingly toxic for children.”
In the statement, Winters criticized host Miley Cyrus‘ “wardrobe malfunction” during a glimpse backstage during which Cyrus was exposed when the curtain she was standing behind slipped, revealing her nipple. “Are we surprised that Miley Cyrus exposed herself to millions of viewers, and to more people who will inevitably see the news in the mainstream media? About as surprised as we’ll be if the sun rises in the east tomorrow morning. We had hoped she would have proven us wrong and demonstrate her considerable talent as a performer, rather than rely on her own sexuality to entertain the audience.”
In closing, the PTC expressed disappointment that the VMAs and it’s partners, including Cyrus opted to use its platform to “expose millions of children to graphic, inappropriate and far-too-frequently offensive content” as opposed to taking advantage of the opportunity to be “forces for something positive.”
Read the full statement below:
“MTV had an opportunity to use its powerful VMA platform to stir a young audience to aspire to something positive and uplifting. Instead they chose to perpetuate blatant sexualization – much of it self-inflicted by the artists – and to celebrate the use of illegal drugs. MTV rated the content of the program as appropriate for a child as young as 14, though most parents of teens that age would find such a content rating preposterous. In the end, the network succeeded in what it wanted to do: stir up controversy without regard to its impact on an entertainment environment that is increasingly toxic for children.
“Are we surprised that Miley Cyrus exposed herself to millions of viewers, and to more people who will inevitably see the news in the mainstream media? About as surprised as we’ll be if the sun rises in the east tomorrow morning. We had hoped she would have proven us wrong and demonstrate her considerable talent as a performer, rather than rely on her own sexuality to entertain the audience.
“It’s also unfortunate that the VMAs were underwritten by the vast majority of Americans who were forced to pay for MTV on their cable bills, but who don’t give a damn about the VMAs.
“MTV and Cyrus could both be forces for something positive, but tonight’s VMA partners relied on exposing millions of children to graphic, inappropriate and far-too-frequently offensive content.”
