Archive for 'Cautionary Tales'
IN THE NEWS: Risque Photos Leaked of Disney Teen Star Demi Lovato. Rumors of “More to Come.”
Posted on 17. Dec, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
This hasn’t been a good week for Disney Teen Stars.
Splashed across multiple on-line sources today are risque leaked photos of troubled Disney teen star Demi Lovato. HMB won’t post them here but they’re more than easy to find if you’re so inclined. One photo, a portion of which is on our lead page, shows Lovato with some of her female dancers flashing cleavage. Another picture is a more intimate photo of Demi provocatively licking the face of a female dancer (Cropped version Left) and the third photo posted today is of multiple black and white pics of Lovato wearing only a dark lace bra (not shown) in what appears to be a bathroom stall.
So here’s the kicker – rumors have it an explicit “tape” exists and will soon make it’s way to the world wide web. Let’s hope this is not true and that if it is true, Disney’s massive legal team puts a stop to it’s release.
If your children are on the internet, you may want to speak with them about this unfortunate incident before they come across it in the news. HMB will be checking in with the professionals at West Coast Counseling Center for their view on why child stars often implode in such grand fashion and what steps we as parents of child actors can take to avoid these pitfalls.
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IN THE NEWS: Father of Former Child Star Thora Birch Get’s Her Booted Off An Off-Broadway Production
Posted on 17. Dec, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Paul Alexander and Thora Birch
Seems an over-involved stage dad has officially put the “OFF” in Off-Broadway, as in “Turned Off,” “Laid Off” and just plain old “Kicked Off.”
Former Child Star Thora Birch, 28, (American Beauty, Ghost World, Hocus Pocus) was set to make her New York stage debut in an adaptation of Bram Stoker’s horror classic, “Dracula,” but was dismissed from the cast last Friday amid allegations her father and manager Jack Birch had threatened another actor during a rehearsal. Paul Alexander, the director of the off-Broadway production, reveals that his decision to release Birch from the show was based on her father Jack Birch’s “bizarre” behavior on set. Alexander claims the “release” occurred last Thursday after a number of “strange” on-set run-ins with Jack Birch.
Although Alexander was disappointed to do so, he told ABCNews.com, “I had to let [Thora] go for the safety of my cast and crew. It’s unfortunate because Thora’s performance would have been an extremely interesting and innovative performance to watch – that’s why I hired her in the first place…It really was like ‘Nightmare on Elm Street.’ It was bizarre. He [Jack Birch] also insisted on hanging out in the girls’ dressing room. And all the girls are in it. Including other people besides his daughter! I just thought, ‘This is getting stranger and stranger.’
Alexander continued, “I have a 31-year-old daughter and it would never occur to me to be that involved in my daughter’s life. It seemed to be exactly the opposite for them.”
Jack Birch denied that he threatened an actor in rehearsal, telling the New York Times, “I was trying to convey Thora’s discomfort. In no way was I making a threat.”
Prior to becoming her manager, Jack Birch performed in pornographic films with Thora’s mother Carol Conners. Conners most notably played the nurse in the film Deep Throat. Both her parents co-starred in the sex western Bad Girl of the West and Tasty Candy Goes to Hollywood among others.
Birch has been replaced as Lucy Seward by understudy Emily Bridges, the daughter of veteran actor Beau Bridges.
Thora Birch in "Now & Then"
Cast of "Now & Then" Gaby Hoffman, Christina Ricci, Thora Birch and Ashleigh Aston Moore
Thora Birch
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IN THE NEWS: Former “Little House on the Prairie” Child Star Calls Miley Cyrus Out on Salvia Scandal
Posted on 15. Dec, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
It’s a former child star showdown. In one corner we have former “Little House on the Prairie” child star, former SAG President, and Lifetime MOW regular, Melissa “Half-Pint” Gilbert and in the far corner, aka the smoking section, we have former “Hannah Montana” child star Miley “Half-Ounce” Cyrus. The two actresses seem to have so much in common: television child stars of their own hit shows, media darlings, braid-lovers – so what’s all the fuss about?
As many of you know, a few days after her 18th birthday celebration, Miley Cyrus was knowingly filmed by a friend smoking a bong filled with what was alledgedly salvia – a plant that causes LSD-like hallucinations when smoked, but for unknown reasons is legal in the state of California. You can watch the footage for yourself on TMZ so I won’t rehash the details here but it’s safe to say this footage is not likely to make it into the new series of family-friendly, celebrity FLIP video commercials.
In regards to the scandal, Melissa, the celebrity spokeswoman for The Partnership at Drugfree.org, (a nonprofit that helps parents prevent, intervene in, and find treatment for drug and alcohol use by their children), was quoted as telling AOL News, “How high do you have to be to let a friend film you? I think she wanted to get caught.”
In response to the statement that Miley was smoking Salvia and not Marijuana (as if that makes it somehow better), Gilbert retorted, “That’s bull—-! I think it was marijuana.”
Miley has not made a statement regarding this video footage or the uproar it’s caused and was photographed on the set of her film, “So Undercover,” in New Orleans yucking it up with her momager, Tish Cyrus.
Popager Billy Ray Cyrus on the other hand had this to say via his twitter account last Friday, “Sorry guys. I had no idea. Just saw this stuff for the first time myself. I’m so sad. There is much beyond my control right now.” As HMB reported last month, Billy Ray and Tish Cyrus are divorcing.
How has this news affected your kids? Are they even aware of the Cyrus salvia scandal?
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UPDATE: Teen Star Taylor Momsen Allegedly Suspended from “GOSSIP GIRL”
Posted on 22. Nov, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
UPDATE: According to Deadline Hollywood, Taylor Momsen has been suspended from “Gossip Girl” indefinitely because of her “offscreen antics.” Representatives for the CW and Warner Brothers did not comment, but Momsen is confirmed to miss at least 4 episodes, beginning with the show’s Dec. 6, 2010 midseason finale. Momsen, who is credited as a series regular, has only appeared in three episodes this entire season.
Child Star Taylor Momsen: From “Shake & Bake” to Press Mistakes?
Taylor Momsen, shown in the video below at age 3 in an adorable “Shake & Bake” commercial, made her first mistake starring as Cindy Lou Who in “How The Grinch Stole Christmas” (2000) because as all know, crazy hair photos live forever! Just kidding. Of course it was actually this role along side funny guy Jim Carrey and under the direction of Ron Howard (a former child actor himself) that put Taylor Momsen on the Hollywood map with a Blockbuster Entertainment Award for favorite female newcomer.
According to Starpulse, Momsen allegedly blames her parents for robbing her of her childhood, stating: “Everyone’s like, ‘Wow, why is [Taylor] upset and why is she so miserable about things?’ My parents signed me up with Ford at the age of two. No 2 year old wants to be working, but I had no choice. My whole life, I was in and out of school. I didn’t have friends. I was working constantly and I didn’t have a real life.”
Momsen is reportedly lashing out at her parents choice to put her in show biz, declaring they are the reason she is miserable. Seems like this really is a “Press Mistake” as there are numerous photos of Momsen on the internet, many of them with her dedicated momager Colette right by her side. Seems unwise to so harshly condemn and blame your parents for your “misfortune,” not because they gave birth to you, but because they currently accompany you everywhere you go and your “misfortune” is questionable at best. Her statements probably also make for some awkward silences at the family dinner table.
Taylor Momsen and Mother Collete Momsen
Press Mistake #2 is pissing off well-regarded and fearlessly sharp-tongued cast mates like Project Runway‘s Tim Gunn, who guest starred as himself in an October episode of Momsen’s show “Gossip Girls.” While Gunn was on George Lopez’ talk show to promote his book Gunn’s Golden Rules: Life’s Little Lessons for Making It Work recently, he chastised Taylor for her on-set misbehavior, saying Momsen spent too much time on her BlackBerry and not enough time focusing on her job. He told Lopez, ”We were doing a different take for every single line that she had. And she acted annoyed at the crew, and the director, and the producer.”Ouch.
When she’s not lashing out at her parents, cast mates, crew members and annoying Tim Gunn, the “Gossip Girl” TV star finds time to front the band “The Pretty Reckless,” and be spokes model for Madonna’s daughter Lourdes’ new clothing line, “Material Girl.” Mistake #3 would appear to be that Taylor could easily call it quits with the whole miserable show biz thing now that she’s an almost-adult but on the contrary her entertainment empire is growing and branching out into both music and commercials.
So are these really “Press Mistakes,” or rather part of some calculated strategy to make it into the headlines and stay in them long term, even if it requires that one say and do some fairly obnoxious things? I’m guessing Momsen subscribes to the “Any press is good press” adage as many people unfamiliar with her show are now acutely aware of who she is. Sometimes in Hollywood, that’s all that matters.
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Child Star Demi Lovato Enters Rehab For Cutting and Eating Disorder, Quits Jonas Brothers Tour
Posted on 01. Nov, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
According to TMZ and E online, top paid television child/teen star and Disney star Demi Lovato has dropped out of an international concert tour with the Jonas Brothers while in Peru in order to check into a treatment center to seek help for “emotional and physical issues.” Per the Associated Press, a person familiar with the situation says Demi Lovato has entered a treatment center to deal with problems including an eating disorder and cutting herself.
18-year-old Lovato’s rep says, “Demi Lovato left her tour early this weekend in order to seek medical treatment for emotional and physical issues she has dealt with for some time.”
We’re told Demi is not seeking treatment for drug use.
The statement continues, “Demi has decided to take personal responsibility for her actions and seek help. She is doing just that.”
Cindy Busto, LCSW, DCSW and Jody Frank, LCSW, DCSW, founders of West Coast Counseling Center, (who were not speaking specifically about Demi Lovato’s issues) tell Hollywood Mom Blog that the reasons for eating disorders in children and teens stem from:
- Competition: The pressure to be “skinny enough,” “pretty enough” and “perfect.”
- Exposure: Movies, TV, magazines, models and other actors are seen as having the ideal bodies. The message is do whatever it takes to get the part.
- Distorted Body Image: Kids often have a distorted perception of how their bodies look and the belief that something is wrong with them.
Lovato’s rep concludes that, “[Demi] regrets not being able to finish her tour, but is looking forward to getting back to work in the near future.”
Sources close to Lovato say the singer was in a physical altercation with a female member of her tour recently which served as a “catalyst” in her decision to seek professional help for these issues.
Coincidentally HMB ran a post on Demi Lovato a few weeks ago noting her personal strength as her “family’s support.” She will certainly need that family support in the coming days.
If you suspect that a child or teen you know is suffering from an eating disorder, please refer back to our article with professionals from West Coast Counseling Center “Top 10 Signs of an Eating Disorder in Kids and Teens.”
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The Dark & Unthinkable Side of Fame: Child Star Stalkers
Posted on 30. Oct, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Chloe Moretz and Momager Teri.
According to Entertainment Weekly, popular child star Chloe Moretz has become the victim of a theft and subsequent computer hacker who tampered with her Facebook and Twitter accounts after a break-in at her home.
The teenage actress had a massive impostor problem after her home was burgled recently. She told Entertainment Weekly magazine, “They stole all my pictures, my Twitter, my Facebook (was hacked).
“We got broken into, and I got my computer stolen and my iPad, so I have fake everything now.”
Moretz has discovered that fame as a child star comes with freaks and stalkers. She recalls, “I got this weird stalker person in France, and he followed me into the hotel and said all this stuff to me.
“I was really freaked out and I didn’t go out of the house for two days.”
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Lance Kerwin, “James at 16″ Child Star, Guilty of Theft
Posted on 28. Jul, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
Ugh. Lance Kerwin, former child star of popular 1970′s television series “James at 15,” and then “James at 16″ has been found guilty of second-degree theft and placed on five years probation in Kauai, Hawaii. Collective sigh.
The actor has been ordered to carry out 300 hours of community service and was given credit for time already served during sentencing last week.
Kerwin, who quit acting to become a pastor (ironic yes), was found guilty of faking documents to get state medical assistance and free food stamps – despite the face that he owns 3 homes. To date he has repaid $21,822.
When sentenced to community service and placed on probation, Kerwin stated, “I’m sorry. The last thing I want to do is to make a statement to minimize what I have done.”
A look back at better years for Kerwin: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ABX2-4RTrY
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Former NICK Child Star Amanda Bynes, 24, Announces Retirement from Acting…
Posted on 21. Jun, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
In a case of bad timing, Amanda Bynes, 24-year-old former Nickelodeon star on “All That” and “The Amanda Show,” announced Saturday via her twitter account that she is retiring from acting. Following Nickelodeon, Bynes was in the WB sitcom “What I like About You,” with costar Jennie Garth. She starred in the films, “She’s the Man” and “Hairspray.” Bad timing because Bynes’ next film, “Easy A,” starring Emma Stone which is due to be released on September 17, 2010, actually looks like it will be hilarious and could have placed her back in a position of making good career choices for herself in Hollywood as opposed to the not so good ones she’s made recently.
“Being an actress isn’t as fun as it may seem,” she tweeted from her verified account. “If I don’t love something anymore I stop doing it. I don’t love acting anymore so I’ve stopped doing it.” She went on to say, “I wanna thank my dad for his words of wisdom!!!! ‘the truth will set you free’ one of his phrases I will never forget!!!!” Then she tweeted: “I know 24 is a young age to retire but you heard it here first I’ve retired.”
I’m hoping this is either a true choice she’s thoughtfully considered or a bad day she’ll recover from by saying someone hacked her twitter account. Let’s not forget, it’s always a girl’s prerogative to change her mind.
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Alyssa Milano Reveals Secrets to Growing Up Sane in Hollywood
Posted on 19. Apr, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
This morning on ABC News, host George Stephanopolis interviewed beautiful actress and UNICEF ambassdor Alyssa Milano in promotion of her new prime time series “Romantically Challenged,” premiering tonight on ABC. During the interview George asked Allysa how she managed to be a child actor, grow up in the spotlight on 70′s smash hit “Who’s the Boss?” and yet, remain so normal.
Alyssa replied:
“You know, it’s a hard business to grow up in and I had the best circumstances which was a family that didn’t care what I did just as long as there was food on the table and we all had dinner together. And, I really think that having that stability saved me. I think a child can go through anything as long as they have parents behind them that support them and remind them what’s important in life.”
“I have a brother who’s 10 years younger than I am and he never missed an opportunity to tell me about my acne (laughs) and that kept me normal, sane and grounded. Down to earth. [My parents] always instilled in me that family, love and friendship were the most important things and that it doesn’t matter what you do in your life as long as you have those things, you’re a success.”
ABOUT THE SHOW: “Romantically Challenged,” is an ensemble comedy about four friends trying to find love and happiness while navigating their way through today’s tricky world of dating. The show premieres tonight, MONDAY, APRIL 12 (9:32-10:00 p.m., ET) on the ABC Television Network.
Smart and beautiful Rebecca (Alyssa Milano) is recently divorced after 15 years of marriage. Having never really dated before she was married – and not having been on a date since Clinton was in office — she finds it scary to start over now. Although a gifted mom and lawyer, she is clueless about dating and hopes to get some help from her equally romantically-challenged friends.
Perry is Rebecca’s best friend since childhood. He is a rugged man’s man and a tremendously successful financial planner — but also one of Pittsburgh’s most sensitive hopeless romantics. When it comes to matters of the heart, Perry is a romance-a-holic who falls in love with women 20 minutes after meeting them. After 40 minutes, he’s already naming their future children.
A struggling novelist, the witty and affable Shawn has been Perry’s best friend and rent-free roommate for six years. Shawn is the emotionally unavailable cynic to Perry’s hopeless romantic. He has never had a relationship more serious than a three-night stand – and even those send him running for the door.
Rounding out the group is Rebecca’s petite, baby sister, Lisa. Behind her deceptively sweet appearance is a sassy pit bull ready to protect her older sister. Although a nurturing kindergarten teacher, she has a wild side too, and sees a “threesome” as “second base.”
Will these four romantically challenged friends ever find lasting love? Or even someone who lasts until next Thursday?
“Romantically Challenged” stars Alyssa Milano as Rebecca Thomas, Kyle Bornheimer as Perry Gill, Josh Lawson as Shawn Goldwater and Kelly Stables as Lisa Thomas.
The series is created by Ricky Blitt and executive produced by Blitt and James Burrows. Burrows also serves as the show’s director. The series is produced by Bonanza Productions Inc. and Candy Bar Productions in association with Warner Bros. Television.
”Romantically Challenged” is broadcast in 720 Progressive (720P), ABC’s selected HDTV format, with 5.1-channel surround sound.
For more information on “Romantically Challenged,” visit ABC.com. Follow the show on Twitter @RomChallenged, follow Alyssa on @Alyssa_Milano or become a fan on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/RomanticallyChallenged
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Seth Green Speaks About Friend & Former Child Star Corey Haim (Dec. 23, 1971- March 10, 2010)
Posted on 13. Mar, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
My husband Russell and I worked with Seth Green on a small, teen film called “Can’t Hardly Wait,” back in 1998. While the film wasn’t intended for my demographic and I admittedly appreciated very little of it’s humor, a few actors on the film really stood out. One of them was Seth Green; an immeasurably talented, funny and unpretentious guy. When I came across this post online quoting Seth about recently deceased former child star Corey Haim, I decided to reprint a small portion and link to the original post on Entertainment Weekly because Seth’s one person in Hollywood who doesn’t appear to have an agenda in discussing Haim’s career and untimely death.
Did you know Corey Haim at all in his younger days?
Seth Green: I met him first when I was probably 14 or 15, and it was the height of [his] success and I was so enamored by kids that were doing what I wanted to do. And then after his career had started to wane and he was doing more “slim-chance-of-release” movies, he did a movie called The Double O Kid and I had a small part in it that which wound up getting cut. [Laughs] Let me think. I was probably like 17 or 18 years old. I was like his buddy driving him to his new job and we’re talking about what the job is, and it’s all exposition. “Really, you’re taking a summer job interning with the CIA? That’s great” or whatever it was. We spent two days together working. We started to shoot one day and he was complaining of stomach pains and eventually wound up leaving and we couldn’t shoot anything that day and I was really upset. I was such a defender of him, and then to show up on-set and then have him sort of act the way people were accusing him of acting was really disheartening. Then like a day or so later, they reset up everything to shoot and he was just immeasurably professional that day. Like just all over the place, working way above and beyond, busting his ass, knew all his lines, was hittin’ his marks really sharp, and elevating it. As much as you could elevate The Double O Kid, elevating it. That’s kind of what he was, was this duality of incredibly sweet and earnest professional who really loved performing and would go above and beyond for the project and his castmates and also this kind of troubled, tortured drug addict that could be an entirely different person depending on where he was with his addiction. But like I said, when we got back to shooting, I was blown away by how awesome he was.
As a fellow child actor, what was the difference between you and Corey Haim?
Seth Green: I was never famous as a kid. [Laughs] That’s the biggest difference between me and any other kid actor is that I wasn’t famous as a kid. I was never specifically associated with a part, I didn’t have tons of money, I wasn’t conventionally tall or handsome, so you know the things that were available to me were hard work and perseverance. I just didn’t have the same opportunities so I wasn’t able to make the same mistakes.
Anything else you wanted to say?
Seth Green: As people get older and fall out of the spotlight, people’s memory of them changes. He was a really sweet and earnest performer, and that came through in everything that he did. Whether it’s Silver Bullet, Lucas, even Lost Boys. He really just loved performing so much and wasn’t cynical. I just hope that people will always remember the kid as somebody who was a really good actor and loved performing and just got caught up.
A recent photo of Corey Haim with his mother Judy Haim, also his manager. Corey and Judy were living in the Oakwood Apartments near Universal Studios at the time of his death.
Excerpts from an interview with Entertainment Weekly. Please continue reading the original interview here.
The L.A. Coroner’s Office confirms that Corey Haim’s autopsy was completed March 11, 2010. According to the chief coroner investigator, “The cause of death has been deferred pending receipt of toxicology and histopathology tests.” The office expects to get results in six to eight weeks.
Access Hollywood, reports that Haim’s mother — Judy Haim — says the coroner’s office called her to disclose the actor’s cause of death. She claims she was told the autopsy found the actor suffered pulmonary congestion, and found he had an enlarged heart and water in his lungs.
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9 Yr Old Disney Star’s Clothing Line deemed the “Apocolypse” by Perez Hilton, “Perverse” by The Daily Mail & “Too Racy & Sexy” by Celebrity Stylist Shaye Strager
Posted on 08. Feb, 2010 by Editor Tracy Bobbitt.
“If babies are wearing this crap right out of the bomb, there is no hope for the youth of America.”
- Blogger Perez HIlton on the Emily Grace Reeves collection by Ooh La La Couture
I’d like to preface this post by saying never in my many years of working in children’s fashion have I witnessed such an enormous backlash against a children’s clothing company or a clothing line as what you are about to read. This makes Charlie’s Sheen’s ill-fated and poorly received clothing line Sheen Kidz seem like the front runner of fashion week by comparison. It’s important to note that this is not the fault of these young children, but rather some poor decisions on the part of their parents and their management teams. The poor kid just turned 9 about three weeks ago – Consider this a cautionary tale…
Ooh La La! I smell a pint-sized scandal. Nine year old, up-and-coming Disney Star Emily Grace Reeves and her namesake children’s clothing line “The Emily Grace Collection” designed by Ooh! La La Couture has come under a hailstorm of fire from the press for being too adult (in a promiscuous sense) and is being likened to designs by a well-known online lingerie brand by several high-profile critics. The Emily Grace Collection is named after “Hannah Montana” actor Emily Grace Reaves, who helps design the line. The line is currently scheduled to debut on February 14, 2010 at Fred Segal.
Her friend Noah Cyrus, 10, (Miley’s younger sister) has also helped promote the collection in photos and online videos. Noah is Disney superstar Miley Cyrus’ younger sister.
According to the official Ooh La La Couture press release announcing the line:
Ooh! La, La! Couture is proud to present our new exclusive Emily Grace Collection, inspired by 8-year old actress Emily Grace Grace Reaves (best known for her role as “Cindy Lou” in Hannah Montana: The Movie). The collection’s trendy, sweet, yet edgy feel, is reminiscent of Emily’s true personality. She is collaborating with Ooh! La, La! Couture designers to create versatile styles that can be worn with sweet ballerina slippers, funky sneakers or paired with lace stockings and boots for more of a rock and roll look. Emily’s collection will appeal not just to little girls—the line also has an exclusive Teen Collection available to a size 14.
But the similarity of the clothes to adult lingerie is undeniable, say critics. Gossip blogger Perez Hilton likened the news of line’s “release to the apocalypse,” while the Daily Mail called the designs “perverse.”
Promotional materials for the line feature Emily Grace Reaves and Noah Cyrus modeling the clothing with grown up looks and poses. In one image the girls are allegedly seen surrounding what appears to be a stripper pole (below), and another shows the children posing in leopard mini-skirts that bear a striking resemblance to an adult lingerie piece from LingerieDiva.com. Readers may recall the Miley particiapted in her own Stripper Pole drama at the MTV Awards last fall.
A rep for Ooh! La La, Couture told Fox411.com that the clothing line has absolutely nothing to do with lingerie. “Whoever started this rumor grossly misinformed the public, press and media,” Terri Tex of T2 Public Relations told Fox. “I don’t even know where that word or idea of lingerie came from.” Maybe she hasn’t seen these photos? Tex further states that while Noah Cyrus is a “big supporter” of the line and Emily’s best friend, she is not involved in the partnership: “The collaboration with the collection is between Ooh! La La, Couture and Emily Grace Reaves only.”
Celebrity Stylist Shaye Strager, who has worked with stars Brooke Shields and Helen Hunt, told Fox411.com that the fabric and designs are simply “too racy and sexy for the target audience. Capitalizing on celebrity style has been a huge hot-button issue for fashion and there should be something special about ‘coming of age’ and being able to wear more grown-up clothing,” she said. “But typically, girls begin to experiment with this [more risque dress] in high school … because these girls are so young, I think they are crossing the line here. Bottom line, the clothing is not appropriate for children of that age,” Strager added.
This is not the first time Noah Cyrus and her parents have come under fire for her choices in clothes.
At a Halloween party last year, Noah wore red lipstick, a lacy black dress and lace-up knee-high boots. At another event, she wore deep v-neck Ramones halter-top. Her sister Miley posed nude from the waist up for Vanity Fair magazine when she was 15, which her father took particular heat for as he was there for at least parts of the photo shoot. Reps for Cyrus’ parents did not respond to request for comment.
According to Dr. Georgia Witkin, a professor of psychology at Mt. Sinai and a Fox News contributor, the grown-up images the girls are displaying speak to the problem many child stars face.
“When a child mimics the look of a teenager or an adult, they are skipping an entire developmental stage. Most of the values that kids learn in order to be able to handle the challenges of adult life are during the ages of 5-12,” Witkin said. “This is when they learn how to judge and how they are perceived. If they begin to believe that their value is based on their looks or their sexiness, it sends a completely wrong message.”
Witkin said that it is not the clothing that is necessarily the problem, but the potential emotional repercussions of growing up too fast. “Developmentally, they can’t feel what it means to want to be attractive to the opposite sex. For them, it’s dress up,” Witkin said. “But when they dress like an older sibling, there is the danger that there will be emotions that go undeveloped and unexplored.”
Several years ago a report commissioned by the respected Australian Institute coined a new phrase to describe the commercial sexualisation of children: “corporate pedophilia.” Lead researcher Emma Rush wrote: ‘Images of sexualised children are becoming increasingly common in advertising and marketing material. ”Children who appear aged 12 years and under, particularly girls, are dressed, posed and made up in the same way as sexy adult models.”
For more information about this probem, read Feminist writer Natasha Walter’s account of the hypersexualisation of children, “Living Dolls: The Return Of Sexism.”
Sources: Fox News; Coco Perez; PerezHilton.com; You Tube, Ooh La La Couture Website; The Daily Mail
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