Cyrus opened up to ‘CBS Sunday Morning’ about facing backlash throughout her career

By 

Jack Irvin

Published on October 3, 2025 04:39PM EDT

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NEED TO KNOW

• Miley Cyrus is opening up about past criticisms
• The superstar is set to appear on CBS Sunday Morning
• “I was the first person to maybe ever be canceled, I guess,” she said in a clip from the upcoming interview

Miley Cyrus is reflecting on criticism she’s faced in the past.

In a preview clip from an upcoming CBS Sunday Morning interview, the Grammy-winning superstar looked back on facing backlash throughout her career and how she feels about it now.

“I was the first person to maybe ever be canceled, I guess,” said Cyrus, 32, who became a controversial figure in pop culture as she transitioned from a famous child on Hannah Montana to an adult.

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“Well, you know, I didn’t know until I was older, actually, how brutal it really was, ‘cause it was very, I guess, you know, challenging for other people,” she continued. “But for me, it was a good time. It looked fun, and it was fun.”

It’s unclear what exactly Cyrus is referring to when discussing criticism. But she’s faced quite a bit of it, from holding a pole on an ice cream truck during a 2009 Teen Choice Awards performance to a leaked video of her smoking from a bong the following year.

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The Something Beautiful artist faced more backlash as she drastically changed her image for 2013’s Bangerz era, went nude in the “Wrecking Ball” music video and sang lyrics about drug and alcohol use on songs like “We Can’t Stop.”

“It wasn’t until I was older that I realized how harsh [the criticism was] and, you know, it just — I would never now, being where I am, ever look at someone in their 20s from the view of who I am now,” Cyrus told CBS Sunday Morning. “So, I think it was that. But at the time, it was awesome.”

Miley Cyrus in June 2025.Credit: 

XNY/Star Max/GC Images/GettyMiley Cyrus in February 2014.Credit: 

Tim Mosenfelder/Getty

Last month, the “Flowers” musician opened up about young fame in conversation with Pamela Anderson for CR Fashion Book.  “I made a decision at 11, and I’ve never stopped,” she said. “I made this deep commitment, and I never questioned it or reexamined it.”

Cyrus spoke about reevaluating her career goals in her 20s and early 30s and noted that she still says “yes” to fame today — “but I’m not afraid of the day it’s no,” she said.

“I don’t know if that day will come—when this no longer has my heart the way it does now. Like you said, there could be a season where all of this no longer interests me, and that’s okay,” added Cyrus.