Cyrus responds to photo controversy

Miley Cyrus has issued a statement in response to claims that she pulled a racially offensive pose when sitting with an Asian-American friend.

Last weekend, a photograph surfaced on the internet showing the Hannah Montana star pulling her eyes into a slant, which was criticised by the Asian Pacific American community group Organisation OCA.

On her website, Cyrus wrote that people upset by the image have taken it out of context.

Cyrus said: "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. I definitely feel like the press is trying to make me out as the new 'BAD GIRL'!"

She added that the media is picking on her as they need a new target because Britney Spears is back "on top of her game".