Miley Cyrus takes back apology for controversial Vanity Fair photo: 'F**k you'

10 years ago the singer and actress issued an apology after a backlash for a shoot with renowned photographer Annie Leibowitz

(Getty)

Miley Cyrus has retracted her apology for a controversial photo shoot for Vanity Fair which was published 10 years ago.

Apparently enjoying a throwback spree on Twitter, Cyrus shared a number of old photos including the Vanity Fair portrait, which was featured on the cover of a 2008 issue of the New York Post.

Running the scandalised headline "MILEY'S SHAME", the paper followed with the lede: "TV's 'Hannah' apologises for near-nude pic."

Then aged 15, Cyrus had worked with renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz for the photos to accompany the Vanity Fair profile, with one showing the Hannah Montana star, then famous for her role on the hit Disney Channel show, wrapped in what appeared to be a satin sheet; with the skin of her back exposed.

Following a media uproar, Cyrus issued an apology following pressure by Disney to protect her then-wholesome image as a child star.

"Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old girl in order to sell magazines," a Disney spokesperson said at the time.

In her own, separate statement, Cyrus said: "I took part in a photo shoot that was supposed to be 'artistic' and now, seeing the photographs and reading the story, I feel so embarrassed. I never intended for any of this to happen and I apologise to my fans who I care so deeply about."

In a caption for the photo, Cyrys had seemed less fazed by the pose and whether it could be viewed as controversial, commenting: "No, I mean I had a big blanket on... And I thought, this looks pretty, and really natural. I think it's really artsy."

Then this weekend, after posting a few childhood photos of herself being "extra AF", Cyrus shared the New York Post cover with her own caption: "IM NOT SORRY [sic] F**k YOU #10yearsago."

Fans praised her for standing up for herself, with one writing: "I really admire for @Miley Cyrus stands for - teaching women that they shouldn't have to be apologetic is always important, not to mention her representation of the LGBT+ communities, you f**king rock, sis."