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Miley Cyrus Responds to VMAs Backlash

Miley Cyrus has broken her silence about her controversial Video Music Awards performance, in which she asserted her adulthood by motor-boating a backup dancer's butt, simulating sex with a foam finger and twerking on Robin Thicke. "I don't pay attention to the negative," Cyrus told MTV, adding that she isn't the first to cause scandal on the VMAs stage. "Madonna's done it. Britney [Spears]' done it. Anyone that performs, that's what you're looking for. You're wanting to make history. Me and Robin, the whole time were like, 'We're about to make history right now.'"

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Sadie Gennis

Miley Cyrus has broken her silence about her controversial Video Music Awards performance, in which she asserted her adulthood by motor-boating a backup dancer's butt, simulating sex with a foam finger and twerking on Robin Thicke.

"I don't pay attention to the negative," Cyrus told MTV, adding that she isn't the first to cause scandal on the VMAs stage. "Madonna's done it. Britney [Spears]' done it. Anyone that performs, that's what you're looking for. You're wanting to make history. Me and Robin, the whole time were like, 'We're about to make history right now.'"

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As for the fact that people can't seem to stop discussing her performance, which has inspired divisive cultural critiques about race and gender, Cyrus insists: "They're overthinking it. You're thinking about it more than I thought about it when I did it, because that's just me."

Watch Cyrus' explanation below. Do you think people are overthinking it?