Lindsey Weedston
After a video came out showing a man grabbing and forcibly kissing singer Miley Ray Cyrus as she makes her way through a crowd of fans, Cyrus herself tweeted footage of the incident with a message demanding that her right to consent be respected.
She can be wearing what she wants. She can be a virgin. She can be sleeping with 5 different people.
She can be with her husband. She can be with her girlfriend. She can be naked.
She CAN’T be grabbed without her consent. #DontFuckWithMyFreedom pic.twitter.com/hBDzuflKF1
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) June 4, 2019
“She can be wearing what she wants. She can be a virgin. She can be sleeping with 5 different people,” Cyrus tweeted. “She can be with her husband. She can be with her girlfriend. She can be naked. She CAN’T be grabbed without her consent.”
This was followed up with the hashtag “#DontF*ckWithMyFreedom,” a line from the opening track of her recently released EP “She Is Coming.”
The incident took place in Barcelona, Spain, where Cyrus is headlining the Primavera Sound festival. As she and her husband were making their way from the hotel to their car, a man was caught on video reaching over and grabbing her hair, then reaching in front of her to presumably grope her, then pulls her to him and kisses her on the cheek without her consent.
The video appears to have originally been posted by Spanish Twitter user Alvaro. In the video, fans can be heard laughing at the assault, with one saying “so cute.”
Llego a estar ahí, y al “fan” que se ha tirado a por miley no se le olvida el guantazo que se lleva pic.twitter.com/30PUR4zXR0
— Alvaro (@AlvaroSaucedo13) June 2, 2019
Miley Cyrus, however, did not find it funny. Not only did she post the video with commentary from The Talk denouncing the non-consensual grabbing, she later tweeted a screenshot of commenters blaming her for her own assault because of the way she dresses. What year is it again?
Don’t fuck with my freedom. #stillnotaskingforit pic.twitter.com/b0Mc0fbYsp
— Miley Ray Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) June 4, 2019
Cyrus then doubled down on her Instagram account, posting a photo of herself topless and grinning with what looks like two peeled grapefruits held in front of her breasts with the caption “DON’T F*CK WITH MY FREEDOM.” She also tagged Planned Parenthood, an organization that is all about the importance of consent and bodily autonomy.
In spite of the unfortunate amount of victim blaming and slut shaming from people who forgot to enter the 21st century, most of the comments on Miley’s empowering messages have been supportive.
I'm sorry this happened to you. No one deserves to be touched when they haven't given consent period. pic.twitter.com/x1fZdRs21v
— Lulumaryyy? (@lulumaryyy) June 4, 2019
— A (@sameoldswift) June 4, 2019
oh lord, you truly are the feminist icon of this generation
— genie (@cyrusgosh) June 4, 2019
Amen!!! You deserve the respect you give and it’s RUDE to not understand your personal space???
— Miley Cyrus Fans (@MySmilerSide) June 4, 2019
— ? (@baemiIey) June 4, 2019
Pay Close Attention: This woman is sounding the alarm on WOMEN’S RIGHTS & will not be ignored. She’s using her art form to bring attention. Miley is our generation’s Gloria Steiner!
— Lil’ Poundcake (@TheLilPoundcake) June 4, 2019
YASS MAMA YOU TELL EM!!!!
— dan (@kissmebadkarma) June 4, 2019
I'm from Barcelona and I'm really sorry this happenned. Some people have no limits. I hope he didn't hurt you physically or emotionally. <3
— ~ (@albefdz) June 4, 2019
Queen! DON'T TOUCH HER!!!!
— Cattitude ft. RuPaul (@milkymilkycyrus) June 4, 2019
Disgusting. Im so sorry this happened Miley. What a violating feeling.
— Ash (@ashleyegreer) June 4, 2019
Just ignore the flat-haired people.
— Michael E. Berumen (@michael_berumen) June 4, 2019
Being "sexy" isn't an invitation to be harassed.
"And I like some of her songs" ok maryann
— Marianna (@Marmarxoxox) June 4, 2019
Babe, don't read that, it's useless, continue doing your art ?
— Persona? (@betysotelo1D) June 4, 2019
CLOTHES DO NOT EQUAL CONSENT
— tanzy (@miley_legend) June 4, 2019
It’s 2019 and some people are still thinking like trash cans… Wtf
— Kwentine (@KentinCrz) June 4, 2019
She's coming for BLOOD this time?✋
— Mrym (@maybemrymx) June 4, 2019
Never asking for it ??
— #DesignMiley (@Kaqui_) June 4, 2019
Someone cancel LYNN SEJEVICK & MARYANNA MARTIN pls:)
— lysssssss (@sapphicfeels) June 4, 2019
these comments are so sad. I can't believe people still think like this.
DON'T. GRAB. PEOPLE. WITHOUT. THEIR. CONSENT.— Elise Chantelle (@EliseChanty) June 4, 2019
Predictable responses, but work like yours is helping to make them trite and pathetic. Good look.
— Michael Smith (@MSmith7242) June 4, 2019
2019 is the year that victim blamers and shamers get dunked directly into the trash where they belong.