Miley Cyrus says she's playing a character in public.
The 'Wrecking Ball' hitmaker claims her raunchy antics in 2013 - including her infamous performance at the MTV Video Music Awards in August - are all part of a "rock'n'roll" act she has created for the purposes of her music career.
She explained: "I went from people just thinking I was, like, a baby to people thinking I'm this, like, sex freak that really just pops molly and does lines all day. It's like, 'Has anyone ever heard of rock 'n' roll?'
"There's a sex scene in pretty much every single movie, and they go, 'Well, that's a character.' Well, that's a character. I don't really dress as a teddy bear and, like, twerk on Robin Thicke, you know?"
The 21-year-old pop star also claims she doesn't have many A-list friends because they are worried about the effect she may have on their public image.
She told the New York Times newspaper: "I don't have a bunch of celeb friends, because I feel like some of them are a little scared of the association. This is terrible."
The former 'Hannah Montana' star says she is now embracing her true self and was eager to shake her wholesome image after ending her contract with Disney.
She said: "Things came out that happened -- like, you know, bong videos -- when I was on Disney. But I never wanted to do that to Disney. When I was no longer employed by anyone, that's when I was like, 'OK, I'm going to do my own thing.' But I waited until I felt like I had respectfully finished out what I was supposed to do, you know?"
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