Oh reality, it's not for meAnd it makes me laugh
Oh, fantasy world and Disney girls
I'm coming back
-- The Beach Boys, "Disney Girls"
Boy, Disney (NYSE: DIS) had a rough week. First the Marie Digby flap, and now this: In case it's not in your job description to pay mind to such things, the internet right now is all atwitter about a circulating photo of starlet Vanessa Hudgens baring her mouse ears, and then some. Miss Hudgens is one of the stars from Disney's very massive High School Musical franchise, and girlfriend of HSM co-star (and perhaps budding shutterbug?) Zac Efron.
But we're not here to judge -- well, I'm not here to judge. The boss is bothered though -- she had to explain to her seven-year-old what "nude" means (daughter's insightful reply: "Isn't she embarrassed?" From the mouths of babes...).
What's Amey's complaint? "Disney creates these supposed role models for little girls and then they get famous and go off the deep end and we have a lot of explaining to do..."
Whoa now, Amey -- don't we know to expect this by now? I don't doubt Walt had great intentions, but the House of Mouse has loooonng been a sexpot factory. This ain't PBS, where every kid is special and all that -- this is THE Walt Disney Company. The Mickey Mouse Club tends to be pretty choosy about who gets to don those felt-letter sweaters. It so happens that toothy, telegenic girls predictably grow up to be bombshells -- the classic virgin vixens of textbook male fantasy -- and Disney has just been churning 'em out since Goofy was in short pants.
Look past Britney Spears, the 800-pound gorilla of the species. You've got your Lindsay Lohan, your Hilary Duff, Christina Aguilera, Keri Russell, Lisa "Blair" Whelchel (did you know Facts of Life pioneers Whelchel, Molly Ringwald, and Julie Piekarski all had Mouseketeer pasts? Internet, you are awesome.), Kim Richards (Tia from Escape To Witch Mountain... *sigh*), all the way back to Hayley Mills and Annette Funicello. I'm sure there's some web page somewhere (I don't want to look) counting the seconds until Miley Cyrus/Hannah Montana turns 18.
I don't have the collective worth of these women in front of me, but Uncle Scrooge McDuck didn't make all those fantasticatrillions by himself.
Not to detract from the talents and virtues of any of these women, nor paint them all as tabloid fodder. But ultimately they're human, and they're adults. Parents can't expect their children's idols to stay 15 forever, and the effects of a star-studded childhood on a kid are all too well documented by this point for this sort of news to surprise anyone.
Moms and dads, if you want to dodge uncomfortable conversations with your kids, I don't know what to suggest ... ween your loved ones on The Muppets, I guess. They still haven't gone gonzo on us.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
9-07-2007 @ 9:12PM
delores said...
vaness I like you so much
love Delores
9-07-2007 @ 10:01PM
Aaron said...
Picture plus the underwear ones are nothing special, hopefully she doesnt slide down the path of Britney.
Aaron
http://www.aarondavidson.com
9-07-2007 @ 10:13PM
Jill said...
I'm not gonna deny that Vanessa made a mistake. she did something like this and trusted the wong person with the information. but she shouldn't be punished for it. there's gonna be a *lot* of kids who aren't gonna be interested in a High School Musical 3 without Vanessa in it. I know I will be. I *love* Vanessa, she's one of the main reasons I love HSM so much. her being removed from it would bring down ratings big time. I do think this is one of her brighter ideas, she *is* a role model for young kids. but at the same time, she's kinda showing she's comfortable in her own skin.
9-08-2007 @ 12:37AM
Tiara said...
I loved this blog entry, because you took a realistic approach to this whole fiasco. While I'm sure Vanessa is red all over with embarrassment because of these photos, I don't see the big deal, and I REALLY hope Disney doesn't do something stupid like replace her role in HSM3 with a Cheetah Girl. *gags*
I think it's Vanessa's own personal life and it's unfortunate that this was leaked (partially her own fault -- who *wouldn't* want to leak those?), but to me it has no bearing on Disney's image. Vanessa is not Disney -- Disney just created her image on HSM. I don't think she has any kind of wholesome tween image to uphold for me, because she isn't Gabriella.
I feel for her, and like I said, I reeeeeally hope Disney stands behind her and doesn't ditch her just for this mistake. I don't see how HSM3 could be anything without her.
9-08-2007 @ 1:44AM
Demspey said...
Just another young woman who has no self-respect. Why do young women of today feel that it's necessary to compete with porn stars and centerfolds? Because today's young men have seen it all and altough what they've seen isn't "real life", they expect that type of sexual behavior from their girlfriends or even casual acquaintances.
I won't go so far as to say that girls didn't do unacceptable things when I was a teenager, because they did - but Polaroid film was pretty expensive and I can't imagine any teenager who would have been comforrable having such pictures developed. I would have been certain the lab would call my parents or something.
Kids have access to so much today and parents play less and less of a role in their childrens lives. I was fortunate to have parents who taught me to respect myself and I never resorted to any type of sexual tactics to get or keep a boyfriend. I have passed this on to my daughter who is now 20 and I can assure you she will never be in the position to be "embarrassed" that her so-called personal life is being displayed on the Internet.
I have no pity for this girl and rather than being worried about herself, she should be focusing on the shame she has brought to her parents.
9-08-2007 @ 9:16AM
LuLu said...
Does not surprise me one bit ... that Disney's main FOCUS on this glaring topic is: $$$PROFITS$$$ and no longer, based on the lawless lifestyles of a "brand new" buck naked young starlet's willingness to knowingly pose [private/publicity makes no difference here] rather than, the exploitation of innocent viewers ... we're talking children here! Hold your bricks and bottles
9-08-2007 @ 9:40AM
bigdaddyc187 said...
Oh my this is bad. Now other sites are surfacing saying they have even more racy stuff on her. This is crazy, think about how much money this little picture and home movie cost her.
9-08-2007 @ 9:46AM
bob said...
Probably mom and dad spent their mouse money.sooo,they grow up, find that beauty and sex sell well, and they can keep it now. what DID you expect?
9-08-2007 @ 10:29AM
hm94u said...
i would have to see the photos before i could make a comment eather way. where could i see them?
9-08-2007 @ 11:20AM
Sam said...
Can you believe this is her video interview?
Doesnt look that indecent at all!
http://tinyurl.com/2tpf25
9-08-2007 @ 2:12PM
IsThisGuySerious said...
I love Vanessa Hudgens, but nude pics of an 18 year old disney star? She had to have seen the headline coming. Info and high-res pics are at isthisguyserious.com...gotta admit though, I think she's a bit hotter with her clothes on!
9-08-2007 @ 2:59PM
ump said...
Anyways, Barry well said she is growing up. And people are acting like there son and daugthers would never, Do this.
9-08-2007 @ 3:03PM
ump said...
Demspey
No i am upset with your comment
this is normal. You didnt do it that just a bs lie, I know for a fact you did something simiar to this.
both girls and guys do it. Dont act like you the best parent, and your daugther would never do it. bs
As for the parent thing you are right. they dont pay attetion to there kids. And they blame on someone else.
She is a normal teen doing something normal. this is a non issue
9-08-2007 @ 3:35PM
pipe said...
el meo asterisco la csm :D!
9-08-2007 @ 5:49PM
jan said...
uh, duh... come on now.. what makes for more attention to someone's entertainment career than controversy? She knows EXACTLY what she is doing.
9-09-2007 @ 3:19AM
jeff said...
don't worry about it you are a babe u got a good body and you are aloud to do what ever u want
9-09-2007 @ 9:04AM
monzi said...
jeez is this who you want 4 your gabriella in high school musical-rated G!!! the pics are on gossipgirls.com with the bad stuff blocked out. WHAT'S with her! she shoulda known it would have gotten out eventually so whyd she bother taking it? all her agent peeps r like "o it wasn't supposed 2 get out." blah blah blah. whyd she bother! if youre on right now V, KEEP UR UNDERWEAR ON!!!!
9-09-2007 @ 9:40AM
Dana said...
i think its awesome that she did that lol shes 18 and she can do what she wants. im sure everyone poses nude at least once in their life, you know your bf or gf will wanna take pics of you or do it on camera or something, whats the big deal? and honestly, shes not sorry about taking the pics, shes sorry that they got out, she doesnt need to apologize tho cause its her life and she wanted to have a little fun and she has a hot bod so why not pose nude? yay vanessa, i like her more now.
9-09-2007 @ 11:02AM
Daria said...
I thought she deserved a break, but now the news is saying she was 16 when she took these pics in 2006 and had sent them to Drake Bell. She does look rather young in the pics, and if she was 16, she is a girl headed for trouble. Her mother needs to deal with this. Not Disney.
9-09-2007 @ 12:44PM
caprice said...
i love you so much vanessa hudgens
and also i think what you did was cool
dont be upset