The photos, by renowned photographer Annie Leibovitz, were taken to accompany an interview with the 15-year-old pop star and her father, singer Billy Ray Cyrus. They include shots of the teen reportedly topless and wrapped in a blanket. The Disney Channel, which airs Cyrus' TV show Hannah Montana," was also critical of Vanity Fair. "Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines," a network statement said.

A phone message left for a Vanity Fair representative was not immediately returned tonight. But in a statement to the TV show Entertainment Tonight," Vanity Fair defended its position. "Miley's parents and/or minders were on the set all day," the magazine said. "Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley."

Cyrus is one of the biggest -- and most G-rated -- acts in the country and is often considered a role model for young girls.
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