Luxe Life

Miley Cyrus Sued for $4 Billion Over "Slanted Eye" Photo

By Kimberly Castro

Posted: February 13, 2009

"I was simply making a goofy face," blogged Miley Cyrus in a response to a photo in which the Disney star and her friends are seen pulling their eyes into a slant. Oh, Miley. Your mea culpa for the racially offensive gesture just wasn't enough.

A Los Angeles woman has filed a $4 billion class-action lawsuit against the 16-year-old on behalf of the city's entire Asian-Pacific Islander population, claiming they are entitled to civil rights damages.

The court documents, filed in L.A. County Superior Court yesterday, show that Lucie J. Kim is asking for $4,000 damages per potential claimant. Kim claims that Miley Cyrus "should have known that her image would be publicly disseminated via the media, which Cyrus knew focused on her private life."

Although I'm also outraged by the tween star's infamous gesture, I do have a couple of questions about the lawsuit: 1) Can one woman legally represent an entire group? 2) Who even asked her to do this? It'll be interesting to see whether or not this case gets tossed out of court.

vero

She made a funny face,so what!Everybody deserves a second chance,besides she's only 16 give her a chance.Yes you guys are right,maybe she should stop because of future references but also she didn't mean it in a bad way! :-( please forgive her!

Veronica Settles @ Nov 08, 2009 10:25:00 AM

what am I then...

wow... this woman who was offended would be pissed off to hear me and all my friends imitate our philipino accent....but we are half philipino so does that matter? Would she sue me if i did the same? No she wouldn't because I'm broke and Miley is clearly rich. I think she's in it for the money otherwise she would be sueing everyone cause reality check we all make fun of our races one way or another.... even our own. Give Miley a break! would u call me raciest if i took a pic with my eyes slanted (like a an asian) leaned back with my elbows up(like a wanna be cholo mexican), with my lips all big (cause ya'know im a wannabe black girl), with towl on my head (damn camel jokey), with fake missing teeth (freakin white trailertrash hick)....if u would then.... GET A SENSE OF HUMOR.... cause truth is....it would be me just being silly. ....by the way... I am half philipino half mexican who is married to a persian and whos best friend is half white half black... so clearly im NOT RACIEST!!!!

unknown of CA @ Sep 27, 2009 03:51:48 AM

Racist

Just because "everyone" has made a racially discriminatory face, and let me ask just what other ones are there besides for Asian, doesn't mean it's right. No I have not ever done something like that. And let me tell you, having people around you constantly bothering you because of your race (try since 1st grade starting with these faces) is not enjoyable. I wouldn't have taken so much offense but it's people like you (Thirni) who think it's okay that piss me off. If Miley and her friends did not mean any offense, why is it that all her friends are making the same face (otherwise known as racial slur), except for the one Asian who seemed oblivious? If this really was all in fun and games, wouldn't everyone be making faces, and different faces? Coincidence that the only Asian seems unaware of the racism behind him? I highly doubt this is the case.

Miley is promoting racism to a larger amount of people because of her fame, not just hurting her Asian fans but making others of any race or age believe it's okay, racism is okay; this is why many people had a problem with this photo. But the truth is no one should be allowed to participate in such horrid, illegal (the whole freedom of speech except for offending people based on their sex, race, etc) behavior. If I saw Miley in this photo, I would not have sued her. What she did was wrong but no amount of money can fix the negative impact she's made. But any justification of her blatantly racist activties is both uncalled for as well as disgusting.

So I suggest you, Thirni, should start by going and changing your own behavior and mentality toward sensitive issues that apparently, you are not mature enough, intelligent enough, or a combination of both, to understand.

Ayall of NJ @ Sep 21, 2009 16:58:51 PM

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Luxe Life

Luxury is no longer the sole province of the elite. Upscale goods and services now target a much broader market. Kimberly Castro, deputy business editor of U.S.News & World Report, takes a look at the luxe life, from fine wines and cars to high-end real estate and wealth management. Though no elitist, Kim does admit a fondness for a bold bottle of Scout's Honor from Venge Vineyards and satiating her wanderlust in Europe.

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