At Sunday night’s 2014 Video Music Awards, Miley Cyrus pulled a stunt that was far more unexpected than her Robin Thicke twerk-fest of the previous year.
After winning the Video of the Year award, Miley gave the stage to Jesse Helt – a 22-year-old homeless man who proceeded to give a stirring speech about the plight of impoverished Americans.
There’s just one problem: Jesse’s family claims he was never homeless and is welcome to return to Oregon to live with them, should he ever decide to give up on his male modeling career in LA.
"He wanted to be in Los Angeles," said Jesse’s mother, Linda Helt, in an interview with The Daily Mail, "He had opportunities and he took them, but he had his ups and downs like anyone else."
"It was his choice. He was always welcome. He could always come back at any time. If he needed help, I’d help him."
From the moment Jesse’s speech was through, Miley was criticized for what many considered to be an empty gesture that had more to do with her own vanity than with any sincere attempt to help the homeless.
The facts of Helt’s situation that have emerged since are unlikely to help her argument to the contrary.
Helt’s mother has stated that Jesse plans to fly home to visit her in Oregon today and will decide from there if he wishes to return to LA.
