Miley Cyrus Reveals a Severe Paper Phobia During Jimmy Kimmel Interview
Published Dec. 4 — In conversation with Jimmy Kimmel, Cyrus discussed her engagement and new song, but an unexpected confession about paper stole the show.
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Miley Cyrus sat down with Jimmy Kimmel on Thursday, Dec. 4, to talk about her engagement and the new track “Dream as One” from Avatar: Fire and Ash — but the interview quickly took an unexpected turn when she disclosed an intense aversion to paper that visibly unsettled both of them.
Cyrus described the reaction as visceral. She said that simply seeing paper — especially when it has been handled by dry hands around the holidays — makes her feel nauseous. The condition, often referred to as papyrophobia, is recognized by medical sources as a fear or profound disgust of paper. Cleveland Clinic uses the term in its overview of the phenomenon.
Kimmel was clearly taken aback and spent several minutes pressing Cyrus for details. She admitted she won’t open letters, struggles to read books or newspapers, and recoils at cardboard — though she makes a notable exception for marijuana rolling papers.
Joking about domestic life, Cyrus credited her fiancé of four years, Maxx Morando, with doing the hands-on tasks she avoids. “I just make my fiancé open packages outside,” she said, noting how the habit influences everyday routines.
She also conceded the issue is serious enough that she’s exploring treatment. At times visibly gagging as she recounted the experience, Cyrus called it a phobia that’s beginning to intrude on daily life and acknowledged she needs help to manage it.
The Kimmel appearance follows recent confirmation of Cyrus’s engagement; she showed off her gold ring at the Avatar: The Way of Water sequel premiere earlier in the week. In an interview with Billboard, Cyrus said she’s relishing the fiancée phase and isn’t in a rush to plan a wedding — she wants to savor each moment.
When Kimmel raised the practical question of signing a marriage certificate, Cyrus deflected with humor, recalling her previous marriage and quipping that “the paper is wax,” a lighthearted attempt to skirt the logistics of paperwork.
Watch the segment above to see Cyrus describe her aversion firsthand.
