Miley Cyrus’s father, country music legend Billy Rae Cyrus, has given an explosive interview claiming that the Disney channel show she starred in, Hannah Montana, “destroyed” their family.
Achey Breaky Heart singer Billy, who played 18-year-old Miley’s father and manager in the hit kids’ show, spoke to GQ magazine after his divorce from wife Tish and Miley’s increasingly provocative behaviour made headlines.
He said: “I’ll tell you right now, the damn show destroyed my family.”
Miley landed the role of Hannah, a teenager with a double life as a pop star, when she was just 14. The show spawned a movie spin-off and pop career for the teenager, who is estimated to now be worth more than £20 million.
But as she grew older critics speculated as to whether Miley was falling victim to the ‘child star curse’ with her increasingly outlandish behaviour, risqué outfits and on-stage pole-dancing antics.
She caused even further controversy when a video of her smoking a bong was posted on the internet last year.
Billy Rae continued: “I’m scared for her. She’s got a lot of people around her that are putting her in a great deal of danger.
“I want to get her sheltered from the storm.”
When asked if he wished they had never taken part in the show, he replied: “I hate to say it but yes, I do. I’d take it all back in a second if I could.
“I was going to work every day knowing my family had fallen apart, but yet I had to sit in front of the camera.
“I look back and I go, “How did I ever make it through that?’”
Billy Rae and Miley’s mother Tish divorced last October after 17 years of marriage, citing ‘irreconcilable differences.’
i really like u show u rock hannahmontana
BOOO HOOO> then take the 20 Mil and retire.
how sad, millions of girls watched the show and looked to Miley.Don’t say all that is in vain now.