“You can’t stop people from talking about you, but you can stop giving them something to talk about.”
Miley Cyrus knows a thing or two about being talked about. She has spent her entire adult life in the public eye: dissected, criticized, rediscovered and debated again. So, when he says that, it’s not a theory. It is a lived experience.
What does this mean
The quote is about control, specifically the only kind you really have. You can’t silence people. You can’t stop gossip, opinions, or judgments. Social media has made this more true than ever. But you can control your own behavior, your choices, and what you put out into the world.
The second half of the row is where the real wisdom sits. “Stop giving them something to talk about” is not an invitation to be boring or invisible. It is a call to deliberate action.
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Every event has its audience. Every decision leaves a mark. The question is whether you’re living life on your own terms or just creating material for other people’s conversations.
Where does it come from?
Miley Cyrus grew up as Hannah Montana, a Disney child star with millions of young fans and an image that was never quite her own. The transition from this persona was messy, public and relentlessly criticized. Each phase of her rediscovery was separated. Every choice became a headline.
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But Cyrus never disappeared. She kept working, kept evolving, and eventually released Flowers. It was one of the biggest solo songs in years, entirely on her own terms. The quote sounds like something she came to the hard way, after years of learning that public opinion is a moving target that you can never fully satisfy.
Another view
Cyrus also said, “I’m not perfect and I don’t have to be.”
This accompanying idea adds important context. The goal is not to be flawless or without controversy. It’s simply owning your choices.
There’s a difference between being talked about because you lost control of a situation and being talked about because you made a bold, intentional call. One leaves you helpless. The other one doesn’t.
How to apply it today
Takeaway 1: You can’t control perception directly. You can only control behavior. Focus on the latter and the former tends to take care of itself over time.
2: Before you make an impulsive decision, especially in public or online, ask yourself if it’s something you’re choosing or something you’re reacting to.
3: Reputation is slow to build and quickly damaged. The quietest, most consistent version of yourself is usually the most powerful.
Read also | Miley Cyrus open to acting comeback if ‘opportunity, script or character was right’
Miley Cyrus has built a career on being loud. But this quote is one of her quietest and sharpest thoughts. Sometimes the most rebellious thing you can do is just stop performing for an audience that was never rooting for you anyway.
Related reading
The Four Agreements by Don Miguel Ruiz
The second agreement “don’t take anything personally” runs parallel to this quote. Other people’s opinions reflect their own reality, not yours.
Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert
This is a book about the creative life that makes a strong case for doing your work boldly without waiting for anyone’s permission or approval.
It’s a memoir about breaking free from the version of yourself that was created to please others and instead choosing to live life on your own terms.
The Subtle Art of Not Giving F*ck by Mark Manson
This is an easy-to-understand, practical guide to choosing what really deserves your attention and letting the rest go.
