Photog says Miley photo misunderstood

LOS ANGELES, April 28 (UPI) -- Photographer Annie Leibovitz Monday said a risque shot she took of Miley Cyrus is "simple," "beautiful" and "misinterpreted."

Cyrus, 15, issued a statement Sunday apologizing for the Vanity Fair photo spread, which she said she thought would be artistic but turned out to be embarrassing.

The bare back photo looks like Cyrus is topless but People magazine reported the star of Disney's "Hannah Montana" was actually fully clothed.

"I'm sorry that my portrait of Miley has been misinterpreted," Leibovitz said in her own statement Monday. Calling it a "simple, classic" portrait, Leibovitz added, "I think it is very beautiful."

Cyrus had relatives on the set when the portrait was taken and there were no objections, a Vanity Fair spokeswoman told People.

"They saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley," the spokeswoman said.

The Disney Channel has criticized the photo of its star, which was leaked on the Internet during the weekend. A statement from the cable TV network accused Vanity Fair of deliberately manipulating the young teen "in order to sell magazines."