HOLLYWOOD - Teen sensation Miley Cyrus has issued an apology after a magazine put a semi-naked photo of the star on its front cover--insisting she is "embarrassed" by the images.
The 15-year-old posed for the Vanity Fair magazine shoot wearing nothing but a blanket wrapped around her chest.
But the pictures--taken by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz--have caused outrage, released just a week after candid snaps of the singer/actress posing provocatively in lingerie were leaked on the Internet.
And Cyrus now admits she regrets going ahead with the magazine shoot.
She says, "For Vanity Fair, I was so honored and thrilled to work with Annie (Leibovitz). I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed.
"I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologize to my fans who I care so deeply about."
Speaking about the other set of photographs which ended up on the Web, she says, "The pictures of me on the Internet were silly, inappropriate shots.
"I hope (my fans) understand that along the way I am going to make mistakes and I am not perfect. I never intended for any of this to happen and I am truly sorry if I have disappointed anyone.
"Most of all, I have let myself down."
Disney Channel bosses have also condemned the Vanity Fair images--accusing the publication of creating "a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines."
But Vanity Fair has defended the shoot, insisting the images were given the green light by the star, her parents and her management.
A spokesman tells Us Weekly magazine, "Miley's parents and/or minders were on the set all day.
"Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley."
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