Miley, Miley, Miley, Miley. MILEY. 
 
 MI. 
 
 LEY. 
 
 I like Miley. I do! I have been a mostly unapologetic supporter of her foray from pop country into a more rap-influenced sound. I really think Bangerz is a solid album, though I wish she would leave the rhyming to professionals, especially because she can really sing. I think she’s goofy, secure in who she is, with a certain hippie-ish, free-lovin’ spirit that I really vibe with. I think what she does with homeless trans youth is fucking awesome. I love that she speaks openly about the spectrum of gender and sexuality. 
 
 But when it comes to race? Good lord, shut up. 
 
 So I was just reading this Q&A with Miley in The New York Times about her hosting gig at Sunday’s MTV Video Music Awards. Towards the end of the interview, Joe Coscarelli brought up Nicki Minaj’s outspokenness about the video for “Anaconda” being snubbed, which of course sparked a bit of feud with Taylor Swift – and Miley … well … UGH. She kinda outdid herself. Here’s the exchange: 
 
 What did you make of the Nicki Minaj controversy around the V.M.A.s — that she was upset “Anaconda” wasn’t nominated for Video of the Year? I saw that. I didn’t really get into it. I know there was some beef. I don’t really know. There’s a way to talk to people … Do you know what she said? She was saying that everyone was white and blonde that got nominated, I heard? And then Taylor Swift butted in. She may have alluded to “Wrecking Ball” also, saying that when a naked white girl breaks a Vevo record she gets nominated. I didn’t follow it. You know what I always say? Not that this is jealousy, but jealousy does the opposite of what you want it to — that’s a yoga mantra. People forget that the choices that they make and how they treat people in life affect you in a really big way. If you do things with an open heart and you come at things with love, you would be heard and I would respect your statement. But I don’t respect your statement because of the anger that came with it. And it’s not anger like, “Guys, I’m frustrated about some things that are a bigger issue.” You made it about you. Not to sound like a bitch, but that’s like, “Eh, I didn’t get my V.M.A.” But she was —— If you want to make it about race, there’s a way you could do that. But don’t make it just about yourself. Say: “This is the reason why I think it’s important to be nominated. There’s girls everywhere with this body type.” I think she did say that —— What I read sounded very Nicki Minaj, which, if you know Nicki Minaj is not too kind. It’s not very polite. I think there’s a way you speak to people with openness and love. You don’t have to start this pop star against pop star war. It became Nicki Minaj and Taylor in a fight, so now the story isn’t even on what you wanted it to be about. Now you’ve just given E! News “Catfight! Taylor and Nicki Go at It.” I know you can make it seem like, Oh I just don’t understand because I’m a white pop star. I know the statistics. I know what’s going on in the world. But to be honest, I don’t think MTV did that on purpose. 
 
 OH GOD WHERE TO BEGIN. I know, I’ll make a list. (Please note, the “you” I’m talking to is Miley, even though she’s totally not paying attention or following along right now because she’s busy doing crow pose or freeing the nipple or making a sculpture out of armpit hair and PopRocks or something.) 
 
 1. If you’re gonna admit you didn’t really pay attention to something, it’s probably best to stop right there instead of spewing your opinions on that thing you didn’t really pay attention to. This is a good rule to follow in life, actually. 
 
 2. And, like, don’t reiterate that you “didn’t follow” the whole Nicki vs. Taylor Swift thing if you’re going to immediately follow that up with the insinuation that Nicki is jealous. Jealous of what? I thought you didn’t pay attention? You sure have a lot of opinions about something you didn’t pay attention to. 
 
 3. “That’s a mantra in yoga” does not suddenly make a judgmental statement any less judgmental. In fact, it makes it more judgmental, because you are saying it from your imaginary enlightened throne. May I suggest you rest in child’s pose for the remainder of this post? 
 
 4. First of all, was Nicki really even all that angry-seeming? She wrote a post on Instagram post and her “tone” was open to some interpretation, so the fact that you read it as “angry,” or assumed she was “angry,” is kind of telling. Personally, I thought Nicki sounded frustrated. Annoyed. Fed up. OVER IT. Etc. 
 
 And shit, if she was angry, who can blame her? And why is that a bad thing? The idea that anger is always bad, or unproductive, or misplaced is a total fallacy. Anger is just as valid an emotion as “love,” and it’s certainly more valid than the mealy-mouthed interpretation of love that “came from” your last time on molly. 
 
 5. Now, since you didn’t “follow” this story and kept cutting off the interviewer as he tried to explain it to you, let me just briefly clarify what you seemingly missed: Nicki Minaj’s frustration, excuse me, “anger” was about the way the music industry’s fucked up standards for beauty and sexuality reward white female artists and ignore Black female artists — yes, such as herself. God forbid she make it about her at all though, right? SAYS THE CHICK WHO HUMPED A FOAM FINGER DURING SOMEONE ELSE’S PERFORMANCE. 
 
 6. “If you want to make it about race, there’s a way you could do that.” 
 
 *blink* 
 
 Are you, Miley Cyrus, a white woman who grew up with all the privileges in the world, REALLLLLLLLLLY going to tell a Black woman how to talk about race? You might want to stop buy Home Depot and buy a shovel. 
 
 7. Are you coming from a place of love when you criticize Nicki Minaj for being “not too kind,” “not very police” and jealous? Can you really complain about Nicki starting a “catfight” that ended weeks ago if you’re essentially picking a fight of your own? Now you’ve given E! News a headline: “Catfight! Miley Goes After Nicki, Shoves Dirty Ass Fake Hippie Foot In Mouth!” NAMASTE, Miley, namaste. 
 
 8. Is “I know the statistics” the new “I have a Black friend”? 
 
 9. What statistics cannot possibly convey are the insidious ways structural racism and white privilege work and the impact they have on people of color. What MTV did or did not do “on purpose” was not really the point. And maybe just maybe if you had actually deigned to pay attention and followed along you might have learned something. To use your words, that would have been the kind, polite thing to do. 
 
 [NY Times] ||||| THE THEORY OF PANSEXUALITY By Peter BoomHuman beings, by nature must be, " pansexual " (from the Greek, Pan = all) a complete sexual person. We all possess various sexual possibilitiesgenerally classified as heterosexual homosexual , bi-sexual, autoerotic,fetishist, sado-masochistic, etc. These tendencies in our nature can comeout at any time , according to the development of each individual. Childrenare born polimorphoperverse; the curiosity of discovery leads them to play with their mothers, touch their genitals, masturbate and investigate theirexcretia. Later, as they develop, they play games of "doctor" as theyexplore the bodies and functions of their friends . All this is perfectlynatural.During puberty their ambivalence is natural and undeniable as they adapt to life as an adult. Only later does their sexual proclivity become morecrystallized and definite, although the range of options remain open. Theseoptions are partially repressed or are made taboo , according to the societyin which they live.There's a tribe in Borneo in which the women live with their children in ahuge hut, while men live apart from them. In Kenya there's a nomadic tribe of proud long-living people who have the custom of coupling boys of twelvein a ritual of blood-mixing. These male couples remain faithful to eachother all their lives, wandering far off together, returning to the tribeonce or twice a year in order to procreate with the women. There are many examples, like the Siwans from Africa, the Sambia in New Guinea, where nearly all males engage in both hetero- and homo-sexual intercourse, but we can leave these to the anthropologists.The term pansexuality " exists already, but with a different meaning to that which I apply to it, indicating the concept to which sexual instinct is the basis of all human behaviour (Freud).It is important not to repress any of our pansexuality and to live itfreely, using good sense. The repression and banning of natural instinctcreates frustration, often resulting in antisocial and violent behaviour.Good sense is embodied in the expression: "Don't do unto others what youwould not have them do unto you!" ||||| Photo Advertisement Continue reading the main story 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 LOS ANGELES — This weekend, Miley Cyrus is throwing a rager. Everyone’s invited, and MTV is footing the bill. 
 
 “They said, ‘This is your party,’ ” Ms. Cyrus, 22, said of the network’s Video Music Awards, which she will host on Sunday night from the Microsoft Theater here, starting at 9 p.m. And she’s taking MTV at its word, helping to plan a show she promises will be “psychedelic” and “raw,” unlike any other. 
 
 “I didn’t want this V.M.A.s to be like they’ve been in the past,” Ms. Cyrus, in workout gear, said at her home studio, where she is recording what she has called “avant-garde” music with Wayne Coyne of the Flaming Lips. “Last year there wasn’t even a host, so there was no energy.” 
 
 The last time Ms. Cyrus took the stage at the Video Music Awards, two years ago, she performed, tongue unleashed, with giant teddy bears (stepping out of one, into her new reality), a phallic foam finger and a pre-crash Robin Thicke — prompting a thousand think pieces about slut-shaming, racial appropriation for her use of black female dancers and the meaning of twerking. Some critics cried “minstrel show,” while the cable news host Mika Brzezinski said, “There’s pushing the envelope and there’s porn — there’s raunchy porn that’s disgusting and disturbing.” (The next year, when Ms. Cyrus won Video of the Year for “Wrecking Ball,” she sent a homeless youth to speak for her with seriousness.) 
 
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 This year, Ms. Cyrus will have a chance to provoke again, but as the host instead of a performer, she’ll have more control (and screen time), setting the tone for the show. She comes equipped with a newly focused visual aesthetic — including lo-fi, “surrealist” work from underground Net artists — that until recently was manifested most clearly in her bonkers, animal-heavy Instagram feed. 
 
 The video awards will also feature Kanye West receiving the Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award, along with performances by the Weeknd and a re-emerging Justin Bieber. 
 
 In between freshly rolled joints, Ms. Cyrus spoke in a stream of consciousness about her MTV memories (growing up onstage), her thoughts on the nominees (not her thing) and just who let this hosting gig happen (someone with nothing to lose). These are edited excerpts from the conversation. 
 
 How do you think back on the Video Music Awards in 2013? 
 
 Everything I’ve ever done has been true to me at that minute. Even down to my TV show [“Hannah Montana”] — when I started I was 12 years old, and that was like a dream to me. So that was my truth at that moment. 
 
 Me coming out of that teddy bear, to me, wasn’t just a teddy bear. My dad always explained it to me that you step into your happiness. That’s kind of like what I was doing. When I broke down the bear belly, I was really breaking out — my show ended, and then I didn’t really work for two years. That’s when I did my most self-exploration. [The performance] was kind of going into this way of saying, “I’m just going to do what will make me happy.” At that moment, that’s what really made me happy. 
 
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 Why did people think it was so shocking? 
 
 When you look at it now, it looks like I’m playing hopscotch. Compared to what I do now, it looks like nothing. I can’t believe that was a big deal. It wasn’t shocking at all. 
 
 I was in the studio with Kanye [later] that night, and we watched it back and we didn’t say anything. He was like, “That was sick,” whatever. We woke up the next day, and he was like, “Whoa.” He called and said, “Turn on your TV.” I was staying at the Trump Hotel and Donald Trump literally called and said, basically, “I know everyone’s talking about it, but I loved it.” I had no idea anyone was talking about it yet. 
 
 Even people around me really judged me. People that I really loved and thought were my friends judged me for it. They were like, “You were on drugs when you did that performance.” I did nothing! I still don’t get it. 
 
 Twerking became the hottest issue in the nation. 
 
 Dude, it was insane. I became that girl — I was the face of twerking, which didn’t really matter. That wasn’t what it was about. 
 
 What was your relationship with Robin Thicke like after? 
 
 I didn’t really know him too much before, and I don’t really know him now. It was funny, because I got so much of the heat for it, but that’s just being a woman. He acted like he didn’t know that was going to happen. You were in rehearsals! You knew exactly what was going to happen. And he was actually the one that approved my outfit, so I thought that was very funny. He wanted me as naked as possible, because that’s how his video was. It was very much a collaboration. My part — “We Can’t Stop” — was all me. But when it went into “Blurred Lines,” that was his performance. 
 
 Do you feel defiant about it? 
 
 I still love it. But I now watch it, and I see someone that isn’t me now. 
 
 Who was that girl? 
 
 I knew who I was, and I knew the power that I held, but I don’t think I realized my full power until that show. I didn’t realize I could make such a big reaction. I didn’t think that many people would care. I knew I was famous, but I didn’t know what that meant. Everything was coming to an end and starting a new beginning. In every way. 
 
 Do you feel like you lost control of your own narrative? 
 
 I feel like those moments are blackout moments. I remember knowing the night before that it was the first time I would get to perform in this new way. But I didn’t expect it to be what it became. When it was, something clicked in my mind: This many people notice me? If I’m going to be noticed by this many people, what am I really going to say? What I want to say isn’t “shake your ass.” But even if you listen to “Can’t Stop,” it isn’t how I’d say it now, but it is still saying the same thing: “I’m going to do whatever I want.” Now I know how to say that in my own words, not just in the way that’s a hit. 
 
 How did the conversation start to bring you back to the video awards? 
 
 Van Toffler, who runs MTV, it was his last year. He’s leaving, and so he can’t get fired. He was like, “I want to do something crazy — I want you to host the V.M.A.s, because I want that to be my last shebang.” It’s like “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” 
 
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 Did you ever think, “I’ve already done my V.M.A.s thing”? 
 
 No, I wanted to do it right away. I love the V.M.A.s, I love MTV. I don’t watch it, but what I used to watch of it I love. 
 
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 Will you have an opening monologue? 
 
 Seth Rogen and his team helped us write a lot. [The artist] Jen Stark is doing the introduction for me, so I’m coming out of one of her pieces. What I’m trying to do is create my Instagram — which people love to think is so freaky — in real life. It’s letting people into my world. 
 
 Are you going to tell jokes? 
 
 I’m not a stand-up. That’s what it always feels like — like everything’s flopping and dying out there. So my intro is fun skits. 
 
 Were you concerned that these video awards would just constantly rehash the 2013 stuff? 
 
 I wouldn’t let them do it. 
 
 So you’re not going to make jokes about twerking on Robin Thicke? 
 
 There’s not one. I wasn’t going to just get out there and make jokes about the past. 
 
 What did you make of the Nicki Minaj controversy around the V.M.A.s — that she was upset “Anaconda” wasn’t nominated for Video of the Year? 
 
 I saw that. I didn’t really get into it. I know there was some beef. I don’t really know. There’s a way to talk to people ... 
 
 Do you know what she said? 
 
 She was saying that everyone was white and blonde that got nominated, I heard? And then Taylor Swift butted in. 
 
 She may have alluded to “Wrecking Ball” also, saying that when a naked white girl breaks a Vevo record she gets nominated. 
 
 I didn’t follow it. You know what I always say? Not that this is jealousy, but jealousy does the opposite of what you want it to — that’s a yoga mantra. People forget that the choices that they make and how they treat people in life affect you in a really big way. If you do things with an open heart and you come at things with love, you would be heard and I would respect your statement. But I don’t respect your statement because of the anger that came with it. 
 
 And it’s not anger like, “Guys, I’m frustrated about some things that are a bigger issue.” 
 
 You made it about you. Not to sound like a bitch, but that’s like, “Eh, I didn’t get my V.M.A.” 
 
 But she was —— 
 
 If you want to make it about race, there’s a way you could do that. But don’t make it just about yourself. Say: “This is the reason why I think it’s important to be nominated. There’s girls everywhere with this body type.” 
 
 I think she did say that —— 
 
 What I read sounded very Nicki Minaj, which, if you know Nicki Minaj is not too kind. It’s not very polite. I think there’s a way you speak to people with openness and love. You don’t have to start this pop star against pop star war. It became Nicki Minaj and Taylor in a fight, so now the story isn’t even on what you wanted it to be about. Now you’ve just given E! News “Catfight! Taylor and Nicki Go at It.” 
 
 I know you can make it seem like, Oh I just don’t understand because I’m a white pop star. I know the statistics. I know what’s going on in the world. But to be honest, I don’t think MTV did that on purpose. 
 
 Do you have favorite videos from this crop? 
 
 I don’t even really know too much of what’s nominated. 
 
 “Anaconda” is nominated for some, “Bad Blood,” Kendrick Lamar’s “Alright,” Ed Sheeran ... 
 
 I like what Kendrick does. I don’t really know many of these. I don’t really listen to this music. I’m probably the most disconnected host in history. I don’t have TV. I have Apple TV. I’m so the 22-year-old that’s like, “Who’s TV?” ||||| ELLE UK celebrates its 30th anniversary with our boldest issue yet; covering the end of gender, fluid sexuality, and the trans revolution. 
 
 And who better to be the face of such a daring new issue than Miley Cyrus - pop star, provocateur, LGBT activist (and the sure to be controversial host of this weekend's VMAs). 
 
 In the issue Miley, 22, talks about her role as a gender activist and a politically engaged young woman, on a mission to make the world more tolerant, and gender and sexual identities less fixed. 
 
 Miley discusses why she decided to use her power, and popularity, to do something important by setting up her charity The Happy Hippie Foundation. ‘I was kind of embarrassed that I got paid money to shake my ass in a teddy bear costume,' she says, 'I should not be worth the amount I am while people live on the streets.’ 
 
 As a provocateur she's acutely aware of how to command attention to get her voice heard, ‘If you get your tits out, and they are all looking, then you can use that space to say something and get them to listen,’ she continues later. 
 
 She then goes on to discuss her opinions on gender, and relationships saying, ‘I’m very open about it – I’m pansexual. But I’m not in a relationship. I’m 22, I’m going on dates, but I change my style every two weeks, let alone who I’m with.’ 
 
 Read the fascinating interview in full in this month’s issue of ELLE Magazine. 
 
 The cover is shot by Matt Irwin and styled by Alison Edmond. Miley wears a white Emporio Armani suit and Rachel Boston earrings. 
 
 Download The October issue of ELLE to your iPad via the App Store. And don't forget to subscribe to ELLE today so that you never miss another issue. 
 
 Music: Fidlar "Max can't surf"
– Miley Cyrus has a coming out of sorts in her new Elle UK cover interview: "I'm very open about it—I'm pansexual. But I'm not in a relationship. I'm 22, I'm going on dates, but I change my style every two weeks, let alone who I'm with." What is pansexual, you might ask? Urban Dictionary defines it as "like bisexuality, but even more fluid," noting that pansexual people "can love sexuality in many forms. ... A pansexual person can love not only the traditional male and female genders, but also transgendered, androgynous, and gender fluid people." Cyrus, who is hosting this weekend's VMAs, also gave a recent interview to the New York Times in which she addresses the 2013 VMAs—you know, the one where she twerked all over Robin Thicke. "I got so much of the heat for it, but that's just being a woman," she says. "[Thicke] acted like he didn't know that was going to happen. You were in rehearsals! You knew exactly what was going to happen. And he was actually the one that approved my outfit, so I thought that was very funny. He wanted me as naked as possible, because that's how his video [for 'Blurred Lines'] was." She notes that the whole thing shouldn't have been so controversial: "It wasn't shocking at all." Click to see what she had to say about Nicki Minaj.