Miley Cyrus says she was the first celebrity to be “canceled” after leaving her Hannah Montana image behind. In a new interview, she reflects on her career, cancel culture, and finding balance while questioning her lifelong commitment to fame.
Pop icon Miley Cyrus has opened up about her career journey and the backlash she faced when stepping away from her child-star persona. In a candid new interview, the 32-year-old singer-songwriter suggested that she may have been the very first celebrity to experience what is now widely known as “cancel culture.”
Cyrus, who rose to fame as a teenager through the Disney Channel’s hit show Hannah Montana, became a household name for her wholesome, family-friendly image. But as she transitioned into adulthood, she deliberately shed that reputation, embracing a more provocative and unapologetic artistic persona. From daring performances to bold fashion choices, Cyrus began redefining herself in the music industry — a move that invited intense public scrutiny and outrage at the time.
In a conversation with CBS Sunday Morning, the “Flowers” singer reflected on that tumultuous chapter. “I was the first person to maybe ever be canceled, I guess,” Cyrus remarked. “I didn’t know until I was older, actually, how brutal it really was. 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 the reaction was.”
A teaser of the interview, released on social media, captured Cyrus looking back with perspective. “I would never know, being where I am now, ever to look at someone in their 20s from the view of who I am today,” she added. “But at the time, it was awesome.”
Her remarks highlight the changing conversation around fame, public perception, and the phenomenon of cancel culture. Although cancel culture has become a mainstream term in the last decade, Cyrus suggests that the public backlash she endured during her early career marked one of its earliest modern examples.
A Lifelong Commitment to Her Career
This isn’t the first time Cyrus has been candid about her complex relationship with her career. Speaking earlier this year with Pamela Anderson for CR Fashion Book, she admitted that her path in entertainment began at such a young age that she sometimes questions whether it was truly her choice.
“I’m always redesigning, reimagining, re-inspiring,” Cyrus explained. “I actually had this moment the other night where I was lying in bed thinking, ‘Wow, I really jumped on a train when I was 11 years old, and I’ve never gotten off.’ I made a decision at 11, and I’ve never stopped. I made this deep commitment, and I never questioned it. It wasn’t until my late 20s and early 30s that I started reevaluating, ‘Is this still what I want?’”
She revealed that while her answer has so far remained “yes,” she’s not afraid of the possibility that one day it might change. “I don’t know if that day will come — when this no longer has my heart the way it does now,” she said.
Finding Joy in Simplicity
Despite her decades in the limelight and her reputation for reinvention, Cyrus has admitted she now values the quieter aspects of life. The singer, whose career has been defined by high-energy performances and headline-making choices, has learned to appreciate simplicity and balance outside the demands of fame.
This self-reflection underscores a more grounded side of the artist, who continues to evolve musically while also reassessing the personal cost of lifelong celebrity.
Looking Ahead
Miley Cyrus’s reflections on being “the first canceled celebrity” shed light on the pressures young stars face when attempting to break away from carefully crafted public images. Her experience illustrates how quickly the public can turn on a celebrity who dares to redefine themselves, particularly when that transition challenges cultural expectations.
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As she continues her journey, Cyrus seems more comfortable than ever in her own skin — not only as an artist who has outgrown her Disney roots but also as a woman who isn’t afraid to question her own choices. Whether or not she was truly the first “canceled” star is open to debate, but her perspective certainly adds an important chapter to the ongoing discussion about fame, backlash, and resilience in the modern entertainment industry.
