There has been a lot of talk about Miley Cyrus since Sunday night concerning her highly sexual and over-the-top performance at the VMAs. Because of her Disney roots Miley is viewed as someone who should be a "role model" and this is not an unreasonable expectation, but in so heavily discussing and debating her actions we are completely forgetting a key part of the equation and that key part is Robin Thicke. Everyone seems upset with Miley Cyrus for grinding on an older man while wearing a latex bikini and generally being raunchy, but no one is talking about the person being ground on. The reality is that the now infamous display had two parties involved, yet no one has voiced much concern over Robin Thicke's grinding on Miley while singing a song about the "Blurred Lines" of consent, a controversial song that by itself is heavily emblematic of rape culture. If we're honest with ourselves, we must admit that Robin Thicke should be the target of equal ire, but, unsurprisingly, he isn't. That's because of the harmful double standard society teaches when it comes to displays of sexuality.
If we're really going to talk about the way we sell sex on TV and what crosses the line, then we have to talk about Robin Thicke, too. He is, by no means, innocent in this situation. And until we start including his actions in the conversation, then all we're doing is perpetuating an awful double standard that makes a woman's sexuality something to be ashamed of while making a man's something to be accepted, if not celebrated. That's called slut-shaming.
This, of course, ignores the racial elements involved in the performance. There has been no shortage of (completely valid) complaints that Miley Cyrus blatantly used black people as props. The racial implications of the performance should not be ignored or swept under the rug. Miley is by no means free of all blame for a distasteful performance that was problematic in many ways. But if we're going to talk about responsibility for a tacky, racist performance we must stop focusing the entire conversation on Miley Cyrus. We have to talk about producers, directors, executives, and performers, all of them, including Robin Thicke. Miley isn't innocent, but that is no reason to ignore or accept the actions of the male performer.
