The one controversy Miley Cyrus doesn't talk about.

Miley Cyrus is no stranger to controversy. From her infamous 'Party in the USA' performance at the 2009 Teen Choice Awards, where she iconically danced on an ice cream truck holding onto a pole, to her high-profile relationships with Liam Hemsworth and Cody Simpson, Miley has always been a target for scrutiny when it comes to the media. 

Having started in the business so young, Miley has also been very open about her challenges with fame and what it's like navigating her very public life. She even recently addressed the Teen Choice Awards controversy, revealing that it was actually her mother's idea. 

"That was my mum's idea. She always lets me take the blame," she told her sister, Brandi Cyrus, during an interview for Spotify. 

However, amongst all the candid topics in her life, there has been one recent drama that Miley has noticeably steered clear of when it comes to the media. And that's her family — specifically, her relationship with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus. 

For more about the Cyrus family breakdown, listen to The Spill. Article continues below.

For context, Tish and Billy Ray got divorced in 2022 after previously filing for divorce in 2010 and 2013. As with any divorce, some family tensions are to be expected, but the Cyrus family dynamics took an unexpected turn in August 2023, when Tish married actor Dominic Purcell in a lavish Malibu wedding. While Miley, Brandi, and Trace Cyrus attended the event and appeared to be celebrating, Noah Cyrus and Braison Cyrus were conspicuously absent. 

To make things even more dramatic, Noah shared a photo of herself and Braison at Walmart that same day. Notably, Noah was wearing a Billy Ray Cyrus shirt in the photo. Soon, the rumour mill went into overdrive with talk that Noah had actually been involved with Purcell before the wedding. Needless to say, it was another spanner in the works for the already complicated relationships within the Cyrus family.

Noah Cyrus and Braison Cyrus skipped their own mother Tish Cyrus’s wedding to Dominic Purcell and spent their day together at Walmart in Los Angeles, Noah was in a Billy Ray Cyrus t-shirt, and was also allegedly making fun of Tish online.

Miley Cyrus, Brandi Cyrus and Trace… pic.twitter.com/XSapTgwElE

— Pop Faction (@PopFactions) August 20, 2023

And while time is said to heal all wounds, the Cyrus family dynamics don't seem to have improved much since then. Since their parents' divorce and Tish's new marriage, the siblings on either side of the alleged family rift have reportedly unfollowed each other on Instagram, and Miley also unfollowed her father.

In particular, Miley's relationship with her father, Billy Ray, seems to have become strained. While she has spoken fondly of her mother in interviews, her responses to her father are much more guarded. In a 2024 appearance on My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, Miley was asked about her family, and she responded by praising her mother. 

"My mum is my hero." 

But when the conversation turned to Billy Ray, Miley was less forthcoming, prompting many to wonder how strained their relationship had become. 

"My father, I'm grateful for being able to watch him ahead of me. He's almost like given me this map and there's a map of what to do and what not to do. And he's guided me on both," she said. 

Tish and Bill Ray Cyrus divorced in 2022. Image: Getty.

"I also inherited the narcissism from my father," she added. Not exactly the highest of praises.

During her Grammys' acceptance speech in October 2023, Cyrus thanked pretty much everyone — "[her] team, Crush, Columbia, [her] mommy, [her] sister, [her] love, [her] main gays because look how good [she looked]" — except her father.

"I don't think I forgot anyone, but I might've forgotten underwear," she quipped.

None of the Cyrus children have publicly come out and addressed the drama, but the subtext from their social media posts and interactions suggests that all is not well amongst the family.

Having been such a high-profile family for so many years, the recent rift has left many wondering about the true nature of the Cyrus family's relationships. Contrary to her usual open demeanour, Miley's decision to dodge questions regarding her father and keep their dynamic under wraps speaks volumes about the complexities behind closed doors.

Feature image: Getty.