The sensationalized discussion of the “Hannah Montana” star Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair photographs by famed photographer Annie Leibovitz has overpowered the photographs themselves. Compare the screen shot of ET’s upcoming report on the controversial photographs…

Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair ET Promo

With the actual photograph….

Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair Annie Leibovitz Photo

Miley Cyrus and Billy Ray Cyrus Vanity Fair Annie Leibovitz Photo

And with her father, Billy Ray Cyrus

Fans and detractors alike can now decide for themselves by viewing all of the photographs and accompanying article online on the Vanity Fair Web site:

Read more about the controversy, the finger pointing and the hand wringing:

Miley Cyrus Vanity Fair Cover

In an updated story, People reports on the latest statement from The Disney Channel:

In its own statement about the Vanity Fair story, the Disney Channel, which broadcasts Cyrus’s series Hannah Montana, said: “Unfortunately, as the article suggests, a situation was created to deliberately manipulate a 15-year-old in order to sell magazines.”

Describing the photo session to PEOPLE, a source close to Cyrus reiterated the teen’s excitement at working with Leibovitz, and also said of the shoot: “Her parents were there all day. [Father] Billy Ray shot, too.”

Though Cyrus’s parents left before the final shot, with Miley supposed to be appearing topless, the source said: “Miley’s grandmother and her teacher were there when she shot it. Annie convinced them it was going to be artistic. Her parents are mortified. They know this is a learning moment for Miley.

“The photo suggests that she is [naked], but she is not. She is covered by a sheet, and beneath the sheet she is clothed. Originally, she was in a flesh-colored tank top but was asked to remove it.”

PEOPLE’s requests to Vanity Fair for comment were not answered on Sunday. In a statement to The New York Times, Beth Kseniak, a spokeswoman for both Vanity Fair and Leibovitz, said: “Miley’s parents and/or minders were on the set all day. Since the photo was taken digitally, they saw it on the shoot and everyone thought it was a beautiful and natural portrait of Miley.”

Source: People: Miley Cyrus: I’m Sorry for Photos

Clearly, this is not the last of the debate or the controversy.

We have come a long way since the Vermeer “Girl with a Pearl Earring” days, whose fully clothed subject has managed to captivate viewers for centuries.

Vermeer, Girl with a Pearl Earring