Miley Cyrus not racist!!

Teenage pop star Miley Cyrus has denied accusations of racism after a picture of the star making a slanty-eyed face surfaced on the internet. She responded by claiming she was "simply making a goofy face".

The OCA -- a group "dedicated to advancing the social, political and economic well-being of Asian Pacific Americans" -- is fuming at this photo of Miley and pals for using what they have deemed an offensive, stereotypical gesture.

The OCA sent us this statement: "The photograph of Miley Cyrus and other individuals slanting their eyes currently circulating the Internet is offensive to the Asian Pacific American community and sets a terrible example for her many young fans. This image falls within a long and unfortunate history of people mocking and denigrating individuals of Asian descent.

Not only has Miley Cyrus and the other individuals in the photograph encouraged and legitimized the taunting and mocking of people of Asian descent, she has also insulted her many Asian Pacific American fans," said George Wu, executive director of OCA. "The inclusion of an Asian Pacific American individual in the photo does not make it acceptable."

"OCA hopes that Miley Cyrus will apologize to her fans and the APA community for this lapse in judgment and takes the opportunity to better understand why the gesture is offensive."

The 16-year-old Disney star, who shot to fame after starring in the Hannah Montana TV series, has been accused by the Organisation of Chinese Americans of setting a "terrible example for her many young fans". The statement also said: "the image falls within a long and unfortunate history of people mocking and denigrating individuals of Asian descent ... the inclusion of an Asian Pacific American individual in the photo does not make it acceptable."

Cyrus responded in a blog entry: "In no way was I making fun of any ethnicity. I was simply making a goofy face." She also said she was sorry if people took the photos out of context, but did not apologise further.

The singer and multi-millionaire might have capitalised shrewdly on her popularity with young Americans, but Cyrus hasn't had much luck with photographs over the past 12 months. A 2008 Vanity Fair photoshoot conducted by Annie Leibovitz showed the then 15-year-old nearly naked, with only a blanket covering her chest. Later that year, images that the singer had taken of herself performing "sexy" poses caused controversy when they were allegedly stolen from her email account and posted online.

All of which appears to have taken its toll on Cyrus, who, in the blog that addressed the photograph, said: "I feel like now that Britney is back on top of her game again, they (the press) need someone to pick on. Lucky me! The press is trying to make me out as the new 'bad girl'!"

Cyrus's next project, Hannah Montana: The Movie, is due out in spring 2009.

Miley Cyrus not racist!!