Miley's People

Again this year, Miley Cyrus used the MTV Video Music Awards to call attention to herself.  Never mind that MTV no longer bothers with music videos, or that Cyrus and almost everyone else on Sunday's telecast were merely warmup acts for Queen Beyonce.

Instead of twerking and sticking out her tongue, Cyrus did something else that had people talking.  After it was announced that she won the Video of the Year for "Wrecking Ball" (presumably the PG-rated version, and not the one where she rode that ball naked), Cyrus pulled a Marlon Brando and brought out her "date" for the evening, a young man named Jesse Helt, to accept on her behalf.  Helt just happens to be homeless.

Just like Brando used Sacheen Littlefeather to voice his concern over the plight of Native Americans as he refused his Best Actor Oscar for "The Godfather" in 1973, Cyrus used Helt to highlight her concern over America's young homeless.  Sure beats dumping a bucket of water over your head, right?

Homelessness is a serious problem that gets worse every day.  From drug abuse to mortgage foreclosures to unemployment, men, women and children have been forced out onto the street, seeking whatever kind of help they can get.  It's a struggle just to survive, and a lot of them don't make it.

Cyrus has been criticized as just another celebrity opportunist using her status to bring "awareness" to a social cause.  Whether she's sincere about helping Helt and others like him or not, we'll just have to wait and see.

It also turns out that Helt has a warrant out for his arrest in Oregon on a probation violation--something to do with alleged trespassing and not checking in with his probation officer, which is punishable by maybe spending one year in jail.  We don't know if getting into trouble with the law is part of the reality of being homeless.  But there are plenty of folks taking to social media and blaming the news channels for taking a nice story and wrecking it.  So we ask:  Do you want the truth, or do you want the legend?

Whatever happens, Miley Cyrus will go on to her next project and Jesse Helt will either get a modeling contract, or go back out on the street.  Neither of them will be wondering where their next meal is coming from any time soon.  But countless others will.