Was Miley Cyrus the first person to ever be canceled?
In a forthcoming interview on CBS Mornings, the “Flowers” singer looked back on the backlash she received in the early 2010s following her shift out of child stardom. Tracy Smith asked her what she thought about the public reception of her at the time, noting, “There were moms that were trying to, I guess, cancel you,” to which Cyrus replied, “I was the first person to maybe ever be canceled, I guess.”
“I didn’t know until I was older actually how brutal it really was,” she said. “It was very challenging for other people but for me, it was a good time. It looked fun and it was fun. So it wasn’t until I was older that I realized how harsh…”
Cyrus emerged as a Disney juggernaut while starring in Hannah Montana from 2006-2011. Following the end of the show, she drew controversy for her 2013 performance at the MTV VMAs alongside Robin Thicke. Almost a month later, she released Bangerz, which included standout hits in “Wrecking Ball” and “We Can’t Stop,” further extending her more mature image.
“I would never now, being where I am, ever look at someone in their 20s from the view of who I am now,” Cyrus added. “But at the time, it was awesome.”
The former Hannah Montana star has opened up about how she grew out of the role. During a recent appearance on The Ringer’s Every Single Album podcast, she said, “I am Hannah in some way, like truly like the identity behind her. She was not really something that was made on paper.”
The “Something Beautiful” singer’s success hasn’t slowed down over the years. In February 2024, Cyrus won her first two Grammys for “Flowers,” and won her third at the 2025 ceremony for her duet with Beyoncé.
