Foam Finger Inventor: Miley Cyrus 'Degraded' a 'National Icon'

The inventor of the foam finger, recently used by Miley Cyrus in her train-wreck act at the VMA awards, said Cyrus “degraded” his invention, which he called a “national icon.” 

Steve Chmelar, who created the original foam finger in 1971, told Fox Sports, “She took an honorable icon that is seen in sporting venues everywhere and degraded it. Fortunately, the foam finger has been around long enough that it will survive this incident. For people who like that kind of entertainment, I’m sure that it met their needs.”

Chmelar’s taste is far more traditional. He said, “If I had a choice between Julie Andrews singing ‘The Sound of Music’ and Miley Cyrus doing ‘Can’t Stop,’ I’d go the Julie Andrews route.”

But Lisa Katnic, the designer of the finger Cyrus used, was ecstatic, telling Yahoo! Music that she designed her version a year ago for an editorial shoot, but the first time it was used was in her design for Robin Thicke’s “Blurred Lines” video. Katnic boasted that she made different versions of the finger, one with French manicured nails and another with gold glitter nails, but Cyrus instead opted for a third option, one with red fingernails–and took it home with her.

Katnic was delighted with Cyrus, gushing, “Honestly, of any person I’ve worked with, she’s the nicest, most genuine celebrity I’ve met… She’s 20 years old, hot, and having fun. What college-age person wouldn’t?”

Chmelar had other thoughts, growling, “As for Miley Cyrus, let’s hope she can outlive this event and also survive.”