From Twerking to Disney Legends: Miley Cyrus Apologizes to Mickey Mouse for Going Rogue
Miley Cyrus, the former Disney darling turned pop provocateur, has decided it’s time to make amends with her past—and with Mickey Mouse. After a whirlwind journey from "Hannah Montana" to the *"Oops, I did it again!"* phase of her career, Cyrus took a moment to apologize for her "bad girl era" that followed her Disney Channel days.
During the D23 Expo in Anaheim, where the "Flowers" singer was honored with the Disney Legend award, emotions ran high. But in true Miley fashion, she couldn't resist adding a little mischief to her heartfelt speech.
“I’m gonna let everybody in on a little Disney Legend secret," Cyrus began with a twinkle in her eye. "I’m the one that tells you what you’re not supposed to know. And what I want to say is that legends get scared, too. I’m scared right now, but the difference is we do it anyway—just like that time I twerked on national TV. It’s legendary to be afraid, and do it anyway, even if it means giving Mickey a mild heart attack.”
(Photo by VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty ImagesReflecting on her early days, Cyrus joked about Disney's grand plan in 2005, which she claims involved hiring both Bob Iger and a slightly malfunctioning version of herself. “Disney was on a mission to rebuild and reimagine the company. That’s why they hired Bob Iger and me,” she quipped. “I definitely wasn’t created in a lab, but if I was, there must’ve been a bug in the system that caused me to go haywire between 2013 and 2016. Sorry, Mickey—I’m sure you didn’t sign up for that.”
Despite her rebellious streak, Cyrus has embraced her past and, in a touching tribute, Lainey Wilson performed "The Best of Both Worlds," the iconic "Hannah Montana" theme song. Alongside Cyrus, other Disney Legends such as Angela Bassett, Jamie Lee Curtis, and Harrison Ford were also honored, proving that legends truly do come in all forms—whether they’re swinging a lightsaber or swinging from a wrecking ball.