Miley Cyrus Sued For Allegedly Copying Bruno Mars In ‘Flowers’
Miley Cyrus is facing a copyright infringement lawsuit for allegedly borrowing a bit too much from Bruno Mars in crafting her Grammy-winning hit, “Flowers.”
According to documents snagged by TMZ, Tempo Music Investments is accusing Cyrus’ 2023 chart-topper of having “many musical similarities” to Mars’ 2012 ballad “When I Was Your Man.” The investment group, which claims to own a piece of the Mars track’s copyright, argues that the chorus, harmony, melody, chord progressions, and lyrics of “Flowers” were “intentionally” lifted from Mars’ song. Interestingly, Mars himself isn’t listed as a plaintiff in the case.
Earlier this year, Cyrus scored her first Grammy, with “Flowers” winning record of the year and best pop solo performance, beating out Taylor Swift and Billie Eilish.
“This award is amazing, but I really hope that it doesn’t change anything, because my life was beautiful yesterday,” Cyrus said during her record of the year acceptance speech. “Not everyone in the world will get a Grammy, but everyone in this world is spectacular, so please don’t think that this is important.”
There’s been chatter that “Flowers” might be written about her ex-husband Liam Hemsworth, whom she was married to from 2018 to 2020.
In her British Vogue cover story, Cyrus downplayed the Liam Hemsworth “Flowers” connection, choosing to spotlight the song’s message. “I never need to be a master at the craft of tricking an audience,” Cyrus told British Vogue, giving a literal shrug. “It will set itself on fire all by itself.”
When “Flowers” debuted in January, the internet went full detective mode, complete with conspiracy theories and all. First, the song was released on Hemsworth’s 33rd birthday. Then there’s a possible nod to the 2018 wildfire that ravaged her home in the lyric “Built a home and watched it burn.”
After decades in the music industry, Cyrus later questioned why it took so long for the Recording Academy to take notice. “No shade, but I’ve been doing this for 20 years, and this is my first time actually being taken seriously at the Grammys?” she pondered in a June interview with W Magazine.
“I’ve had a hard time figuring out what the measurement is there, because if we want to talk stats and numbers, then where the f— was I? And if you want to talk, like, impact on culture, then where the f–– was I?” But she clarified, “This is not about arrogance. I am proud of myself.”
