Hannah Montana Concert Winner Lied in Essay Describing Father's Death in Iraq

Associated Press ^ | 12/29/07 | Associated Press

[DFG]

GARLAND, Texas — An essay that won a 6-year-old girl four tickets to a Hannah Montana concert began with the powerful line: "My daddy died this year in Iraq."

While gripping, it was not true — and now the girl may lose her tickets after her mom acknowledged to contest organizers it was all a lie.

[DFG]

We live in Garland about 3 miles from the mall mentioned in this article. Garland can now be known for something else besides supposedly being the town of Arlen in "King of the Hill".

Fortunately, my smart 10 year old daughter cannot stand Hannah Montana. She has good sense.

[G Larry]

What were the RULES???

Was this an “Essay” contest?

or

Was it a “Send me your most heart rending true story.” contest?

[redrunner]

[gunnedah]

This is the American way unfortunately. Lie,cheat,steal and deceive. From athletes, politicians,teachers and lawyers their deception has produced an America that see’s the rewards for doing such things and America will now pay.

[TexasCajun]

I doubt the litte girl had that brain-storm all alone.

I'm sure her Code-Pink mommies offered a title and topic, probably wrote the whole thing for the 6 yr old.

[the invisib1e hand]

it's ok. the president once lied, and that was ok.

whatever it takes, y'know?

do I really need a sarc tag?

[randog]

AP, Rooters, CNN, et.al. are actively recruiting the girl.

[Bosco]

SOME Americans lie, cheat, steal and deceive to get their way. But it's not the American Way.

Now that we've got that taken care of...

Organizers should give the tickets to the first runner-up. Hopefully the lying mommy will learn a lesson as well as the daughter.

[redrunner]

But wait, the lawsuit will be forthcoming... You know the rules didn’t say you couldn’t lie...

[1rudeboy]

Not those Rules!

[digger48]

Must be a Today Show fan.

Anything anti-Bush or anti-war moves you to the front of the line.

[Concho]

I’m with you, the 6 year old kid did not think that up. Her mother is quoted as saying she did what she needed to do to win.

I wonder if these people are legal citizens? The company needs to make an example of this sort of behavior and go to the next runner up.

[foxfield]

Read the article. It gets worse:

The girl won a makeover that included a blonde Hannah Montana wig, as well as the grand prize

and

"We did whatever we could do to win."

and

the company is reviewing the matter, and is considering taking away the girl's tickets.

She might get to keep the tickets but apparently she won't get to keep the wig.

[fishergirl]

She SHOULD darn well lose the tickets!

[colorcountry]

I’m sure she meant “died” in the figurative sense.

[a real Sheila]

A 6-year old writing an essay should have raised the red flags....

[Screaming_Gerbil]

The mother had told company officials that the girl's father died April 17 in a roadside bombing in Iraq...

"We did the essay and that's what we did to win," Priscilla Ceballos, the mother, said in an interview with Dallas TV station KDFW. "We did whatever we could do to win."

I think Miley Cyrus a.k.a. "Hannah Montana" (who is the daughter of Billy Ray Cyrus), is being a bit over-sold. From what I read at present she is 14 years old. I sure hope she turns out ok.

  

[safeasthebanks]

My 8 year old son loves Hannah Montana, does that make him not smart? And pray tell, what does liking or not liking HM have to do with this issue anyway? Or did you not even read the article you posted?

[Halls]

nothing wrong for liking Hannah Montana. Both my nieces love her! What is wrong here is a little girl has lied to get tickets.

[visualops]

Generally speaking those types of contests ask for a "personal story" as to why you should get the trip & tickets. So that would necessarily mean truthful.

"We regret that the original intent of the contest, which was to make a little girl's holiday extra special, has not been realized in the way we anticipated," said Mary Drolet, the CEO of Club Libby Lu.

It's a shame that woman is starting her daughter off like this. However I have to wonder at letting a 6-year old be a fan of someone with black fingernails.