Justin Timberlake: Miley Cyrus should not be forced to be a role model

In an interview with Gill Pringle for The Independent, Timberlake says Cyrus is a star we 'pick to make the model of who we want our daughter not to be'

Justin Timberlake is determined to be taken seriously as an actor (Getty Images)

Miley Cyrus may have overshadowed Justin Timberlake’s 20 minute VMA performance with her energetic foam finger, but that hasn’t stopped Timberlake sticking up for the young singer.

Timberlake, who like Cyrus was also a child Disney star, told The Independent: “I think she’s really smart and she’s really talented.”

He said: “I’m not saying I agree with the presentation [of her VMA performance] but I also feel like every 10 to 15 years, we pick somebody that this is what we’re going to do with them: we’re going to make them the model of who we want our daughter to be or not to be.”

The singer and actor also defended his co-star Ben Affleck, who was derided as unsuitable to play Batman in the new Zach Snyder instalment.

Timberlake, who has been working with Affleck in his new film Runner Runner, said: “I think he’s going to make a great Batman.

"Working with Ben was extremely informative. I learned a lot. I feel like we were the same way in the sens that he’s experienced being the biggest movie star in the world and now to be considered a great film-maker; it’s a whole new career for him.”

Read the full interview with Justin Timberlake in Radar magazine in tomorrow's Independent