The music video for Miley Cyrus's 'We Can't Stop' raised eyebrows upon its release because of the mature themes and imagery it employs, but the director has now spoken out about the fact that it's merely artistic.

Director Diane Martel explained that while the cut has been received as quite shocking, as it marks a departure from the star's teen years and a move into adulthood, it's simply "creative": We set out to make something we would love and we did! I don't see this video as shocking, it's creative." 

"We spoke a lot and sent photos back and forth; we spoke about her love of her close friends. She is not a career-crazed kid. Her music is intensely important to her but so is her social life; [so] we spoke about the joy of tight friendships."

"To me, she is showing us, the audience, her playful, beautiful self, very freely. [It's] a music video version of what it must be like to bug out and act crazy with her in real life."