Singer Sinead
O'Connor has written an open letter to fellow singer and actress Miley Cyrus
warning her not to be exploited by the music business.
The 46-year-old wrote to Cyrus, 20, after she cited O'Connor's
video Nothing Compares 2 U as an inspiration for her explicit Wrecking Ball
video.
"Nothing but harm will come in the long run,
from allowing yourself to be exploited," wrote
O'Connor.
"Please, in future, say no when you are asked to
prostitute yourself."
O'Connor said she was prompted to write, "in the
spirit of motherliness" after "dodging phone calls from various
newspapers" who wanted the singer-songwriter to comment upon similarities
between the two videos.
The video for Nothing Compares 2 U is principally a
close-up of O'Connor, who sheds a single tear as she performs the Prince-penned
break-up ballad.
Cyrus cries in the promo clip for Wrecking Ball, which
shares similar lyrical themes to O'Connor's song. But the video also finds her
licking a sledgehammer and swinging naked on a metal demolition ball.
"I am happy to hear I am somewhat of a role
model for you and I hope that because of that you will pay close attention to
what I am telling you," wrote O'Connor.
"I am extremely concerned for you that those
around you have led you to believe, or encouraged you in your own belief, that
it is in any way 'cool' to be naked and licking sledgehammers in your videos.
"It is in fact the case that you will obscure
your talent by allowing yourself to be pimped, whether it's the music business
or yourself doing the pimping.
"It is absolutely NOT in ANY way an empowerment
of yourself or any other young women, for you to send across the message that
you are to be valued (even by you) more for your sexual appeal than your
obvious talent.
"You are
worth more than your body or your sexual appeal. The world of showbiz doesn't
see things that way," continued the Irish singer.
"They're
there for the money, we're there for the music. It has always been that way and
it will always be that way. The sooner a young lady gets to know that, the
sooner she can REALLY [be] in control."
'Rag heap'
Cyrus, who
found fame as the child star of Disney children's show Hannah Montana, has been
criticised in recent weeks for her controversial performances, most
particularly at the MTV Video Music Awards in Brooklyn last month.
"You also
said in Rolling Stone that your look is based on mine," wrote O'Connor.
"The look I chose, I chose on purpose at a time when my record company
were encouraging me to do what you have done.
"I felt I
would rather be judged on my talent and not my looks.
"I am
happy that I made that choice, not least because I do not find myself on the
proverbial rag heap now that I am almost 47 years of age.
"Whether
we like it or not, us females in the industry are role models and as such we
have to be extremely careful what messages we send to other women,"
concluded O'Connor.
"The
message you keep sending is that it's somehow cool to be prostituted.. it's so
not cool Miley... it's dangerous."
Last month
Cyrus, who is the daughter of country star Billy Ray Cyrus, topped the UK
singles chart for the first time with We Can't Stop.
Source: BBC
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