Miley Cyrus responds to 'racist' photo controversy

Los Angeles, February 6: After facing severe criticism for making a racist gesture in her recent photograph, Miley Cyrus has broken her silence and has defended a controversial picture of her, in which she is pulling her eyes slanted in a gesture that seemed to mock Asians.

Miley, the daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus, is no alien to scandals. The "Hannah Montana" starlet sparked a fresh photograph controversy earlier this week after a picture of the teen star ran rampant on the internet showing her and her friends pulling their eyes sideways.

Her slant-eye pose attracted harsh criticism from media and an activist group, OCA that accused the Disney star of making fun of the Asian Pacific Americans.

However, Miley said she is upset to see that snaps have been taken out of context, and blasted the media for criticizing her every move.

Sensing the hullabaloo about her controversial picture, the 16-year-old star has issued a statement on her official fan site, saying: “In NO way was I making fun of any ethnicity! I was simply making a goofy face. When did that become newsworthy?

"It seems someone is trying to make something out of nothing to me. If that would of been anyone else, it would of been overlooked! I definitely feel like the press is trying to make me out as the new ‘BAD GIRL’!”

The teen sensation has also apologized for hurting the feelings of the Asian American community.

She writes, "I've also been told there are some people upset about some pictures taken of me with friends making goofy faces! Well, I'm sorry if those people looked at those pics and took them wrong and out of context!”

Miley goes on to write that media has picked her up as their new target because pop star Britney Spears has regained control of her life and singing career.

“I feel like now that Britney is back on top of her game again, they need someone to pick on! Lucky me,” she wrote.

This is not the first time teen star facing criticism over her photos. In April, 2008, she was criticized for posing in a lacy, green neon bra. Few months later, she posed topless and wrapped in what appears to be a satin bedsheet for Vanity Fair Magazine, inviting outrage from parents of youngsters across the nation.

The teen actress/singer also made headlines in the past when a set of her eyebrow-raising pictures was released on the internet featuring her barely dressed and nude. She was also posed in a shower with nothing but a wet-white T-shirt on, and in another wearing nothing more than underwear.