Just when you thought Miley was done with the drama, she went and created a new mess to step into.
Earlier this week, she posted herself hanging out in a floral bodysuit, posing next to (and in) a tree.
The issue? Those are Joshua Trees. And they're carefully protected for a reason: they're in grave danger of dying out.
To understand why people are so mad at Miley, it's important to clarify why Joshua Trees are so sacred: they're incredibly rare!
These desert trees only grow in North America, with only a small amount found in Joshua Tree National Park.
In fact, they've been protected since 1908.
See, Joshua Trees are under extreme threat from climate change. It's predicted that 90% of them will be wiped out by the end of the 21st century.
It's on us to try and preserve our planet.
While some commenters on Miley's post have exaggerated the situation (it's not against the law to touch the trees), it's definitely a big no-no to climb on them.
Unlike regular trees, Joshua trees have relatively shallow root systems.
That means that they're more fragile than the ones we're used to, and climbing them can actually damage them.
I guess Miley didn't do her research before visiting the park, huh?
So, having seen and learned that climbing=bad, it's no wonder that people are calling on Miley to do something.
One person decided to set up a petition asking Miley to delete the pictures from her Instagram.
During the 2018-2019 US government shutdown, three Joshua Trees were destroyed in the park.
That number was lower than initial media reports, but it's still a significant loss to the park's numbers.
As the petition claims, the growth rate of the Joshua Trees is so slow that we will never live to see the new seedlings fully mature.
Each tree could take up to 300 years to regrow.
Commenting on her post's caption, "Looking down on the drama like...
"Not only could she have damaged one of the protected trees, but as an influencer, her post could easily encourage others to do the same thing — leaving Joshua Tree at the mercy of the masses."
They cite the damage done to the California poppy as an example of Instagram tourists.
"One influencer post can make or break businesses and it can do the same when it comes to our natural world.
The followed and the famous must act responsibly when sharing content with their fans because one simple photo could encourage thousands to follow in their footsteps, with serious consequences."
As a famous person, they want Miley to use her platform for good.
"Miley Cyrus should take down her irresponsible post, apologize to her fans and the National Park Service and make a donation to a Joshua Tree conservation organization."
As of this writing, over 13,000 people have signed the petition demanding Miley delete her posts.
Unfortunately, it looks like Miley may not be interested in hearing from the general public on the issue.
It only took her days and days of putting up with harsh criticisms.
There's no turning off replies on Twitter without deleting the entire tweet (which she hasn't done yet).
Since that's the petition's goal, it seems like a win/win situation for everyone, doesn't it? Things to think about.
If you'd like her to do so, you can still sign the petition here.
If you don't think it's that big a deal, feel free to save that applicable gif.
It's ideal for future use on social media. You're welcome.
