Cowell speaks out on Cyrus scandal

Simon Cowell has criticised Miley Cyrus for complaining about her Vanity Fair photoshoot.

The 15-year-old said the cover shot, in which she appears wrapped in only a blanket, had not turned out how she expected.

Cowell insisted that she must have had the opportunity to veto the controversial picture, taken by celebrity photographer Annie Leibovitz.

He told US TV show Extra: "Anyone that goes into a photoshoot, particularly someone in her position, you know pretty much what you’re going to wear….You have a choice - either you put it on or you don’t.

"They made that choice to do it, so to complain afterwards, you had an opportunity not to do it... She just looks tired."

He added: “The problem is she’s part of the Disney stable so for them it’s a bit like Minnie Mouse going topless.”

Cyrus's TV show Hannah Montana has seen a ratings slide in the wake of the scandal.