Miley Cyrus was born in November 1992.
Michael Jackson's last hit song, "You Are Not Alone," topped the charts less than three years later.
So while we don't doubt Cyrus was somewhat affected by the death of Jackson, the lengths to which she's grieving cause us to wonder about her intentions. Come on, Miley, was Michael Jackson really your "hero," as you Tweeted this week?!?
Or, like Lindsay Lohan, are you simply using the passing of a music icon as a means to divert attention to yourself and your fake personal mourning process?
Above the Twitter message Rocking out to 'BAD' in my bathroom. MJ is my hero!, Cyrus posted the following photo today:

Look, Jackson reshaped the world of music in numerous ways. We don't question the sincere reaction to his passing of singers such as Usher or Diddy, those that were alive during MJ's heyday.
We also can't imagine what a true lifelong friend, such as Diana Ross - who was included in Michael Jackson's will - is going through.
But can we please get a break from the outpouring of emotion and supposed sadness from young artists such as Miley Cyrus?
In her lifetime, she's only known Jackson as someone who admitted to sharing his bed with unrelated minors; as someone who actor Corey Feldman said, in 2005, used to show him naked photos of men when Feldman was young; as someone that dangled a baby over a balcony.
Jackson was as troubled as he was talented. It doesn't mean we're glad he's gone, nor does it mean we don't sympathize with those that were truly influenced by his life.
But it does mean we take issue with a Disney TV star and occasional country singer that exploits this death for her own agenda. Not everything is about you, Miley.























July 1st, 2009 6:25 PM
She was born in 1992 not 1991.
July 1st, 2009 6:46 PM
I agree that some spoilt brats will always try to draw attention to themselves.
But i believe jackson's music will live on even for those born long after his death. You don't have to have been alive in the 80's to appreciate his music.
July 1st, 2009 7:16 PM
so young people aren't allowed to have a hero from a different time period as them? seriously sometimes you say the dumbest things on this site. i like and enjoy a lot of music before "my time" but that doesn't mean i don't admire them. get a life and report on actual interesting things and not this trash.
July 1st, 2009 7:32 PM
It's fine to enjoy music from before your time, but that's entirely different than calling someone your "hero." I'd agree with the article: that it's VERY difficult to actually have someone you consider your "hero" (i.e. personally influencing your life) if that individual was famous before you were born.
Does anyone here believe that Jackson influenced Cyrus in any way? Her music isn't remotely like his. So what would make him heroic to her? His affection for young boys?
July 1st, 2009 7:34 PM
Michael jackson death effected everyone. His music is heard all over the world young and old. give the kid a break already
July 1st, 2009 9:03 PM
Apparently the writer of the article doesn't know anything about the persons he writes, else he would have realized that the music video of one of the top hits of Miley Cyrus, Fly on the wall, is heavily influenced from Michael Jacksons video clips, which is obvious the first time you see it. There is even an article somewhere on the MTV website about that.
So if she makes an homage on MJ video clips, he can well be her hero, can't he? And this is one of her own songs, not something from Disney. It's time that people realize that Miley Cyrus is on her way to become an independent artist that she is very good at what she does.
July 1st, 2009 10:12 PM
This article really surprised me!!! I was born in 1990 and Michael Jackson's music was some of the very first music I was introduced to...The main reason why the majority of my life was based around music came from watching and listen to MJ's many hits....When I was 5 I even thought we would get married someday...Age has nothing to do with MJ's hits and never will...If it did I wouldn't love MJ or some of my other favorites like Janis Joplin, The Beatles, Etta James, Nina Simone, Anita Ward, or Billie Holliday....now would I???
July 1st, 2009 10:19 PM
A large percentage of Michael Jackson fans are in their 20s or younger. Every day at some elementary school in this country you can bet some kid is performing Billie Jean at a talent show. Turn on TV and you'll see youngsters performing his hits all the time, like one of the finalists in Britain's Got Talent this year who was only 10 or 11 who talked about how much he idolized Michael. You see kids perform MJ and J5 songs all the time on American Idol, America's Got Talent, etc... His music transcends generations and races, and decades from now you will still see the latest generations enjoying his hits. The saddest part of his untimely passing is that he left when the music industry was in such a sad and dying state, with most "popular" songs these days being nothing more than some talentless hack talking into a microphone with a generic beat in the background... MJ was just weeks away from reemerging into the music scene, so sad that opportunity never happened.
July 1st, 2009 10:21 PM
Well, I was born in 1992 and Michael Jackson, in my opinion, was an amazing performer. I love 80s music more than todays music. And all this stuff about MJ. Just because Corey Feldman said he showed him naked pictures doesn't mean thats true. I heard Corey Feldman had a falling out with the Jackson family right before he said all that.
July 1st, 2009 10:50 PM
My son is 10 years old and he is deeply saddened by the passing of Michael Jackson. Michael is/was his favorite music star and he just loved MJ alot. All my sons friends would always critisize MJ with all the rumors and lies posted about him in the media but my son would never buy into it and always stood up for MJ. Even now as a tribute to Jackson my son only wears one batting glove when he bats in all his little league baseball games. My son was born in 1999 well after MJ's last hit single and well after Miley Cyruss.