The (unsurprising) slut-shaming of Miley Cyrus obscures the racism in her VMA performance

Most things don't surprise me anymore, scantily-clad performances at MTV's VMAs being one of them. Sadly, the subsequent slut-shaming of said performances is another. Towleroad has a full transcript of Morning Joe's Mika Brzezinski's bizarre (and lengthy) rant about Miley's performance where she called her "deeply disturbed" and probably suffering from "confidence issues," and "an eating disorder." No mention of Robin Thicke or his date rape anthem of the summer, but I guess that can't be quite as disturbing as Miley Cyrus in a flesh colored bikini suggestively waving around a foam finger (?).  There were a lot of things wrong with the performance, and Miley should be criticized for her appropriation of ratchet culture and exploitation of the bodies of WOC , but she shouldn't be shamed for daring to be suggestive or sexual onstage at an awards show with a history of provocation.

Clinton Yates from the Washing Post writes:

It seems that we still can’t handle what it’s like for a young woman to be able to perform, as she chooses, without layering in a heavy helping of insults as well. While Cyrus was condemned for grinding on Thicke, very little criticism has been laid on the singer himself for his role in the performance. The nastiest of the comments have implied that Cyrus is somehow diseased because of her preferred dance methods. 

And Robot Heart Politics succinctly adds:

Miley Cyrus is a nasty whore—think about the children!—but you don’t have a word to say about Robin Thicke? You’re apparently okay with a song about dudes raping girls who’ve said they’re not interested, because “mixed signals,” but Miley Cyrus acting like she enjoys sex is a problem for you? No. Pack up your rape-is-fine-but-a-girl-who-seems-like-she-actually-wants-to-have-sex-is-gross bullshit and get the fuck out of my house.

(Content Note: The comments on the Ms. link are super problematic.)

Edit: 8/28/13