Miley Cyrus Addresses Claims of Plagiarism Over Grammy-Winning Hit “Flowers”

Claims that Miley Cyrus plagiarized Bruno Mars’ 2012 hit song “When I Was Your Man” in her Grammy-winning song “Flowers” have been formally denied. has officially refuted allegations that her Grammy-winning song. These accusations surfaced following a lawsuit filed by Tempo Music Investments in September, claiming similarities between the two tracks.

Here’s a breakdown of the controversy and the legal defense mounted by Cyrus and her team:

Understanding the Allegations

Tempo Music Investments, which partially owns rights to “When I Was Your Man” through songwriter Philip Lawrence, argued that “Flowers” exhibited “numerous musical similarities,” specifically citing:

• Harmonic structure
• Melodic phrasing
• Chord progression
• Chorus elements

Additionally, they alleged that Cyrus “intentionally” drew inspiration from Mars‘ work, even extending the claim to similarities with his track “Talking to the Moon.”

Cyrus’ Legal Defense

Cyrus‘ legal team has presented a robust defense, emphasizing the following key points:

Partial Ownership and Legal Standing

Tempo Music Investments owns only part of the rights to “When I Was Your Man” due to their connection to Philip Lawrence.

Other co-writers, such as Ari Levine and Andrew Wyatt, are not affiliated with Tempo Music Investments and have not filed similar claims.

According to copyright law, only exclusive copyright owners have the legal right to file for infringement. Thus, Tempo Music’s claim lacks sufficient standing.

Scope of Copyright

Cyrus‘ lawyers have argued that a shared musical style or thematic resemblance does not constitute copyright infringement.

By law, similarities in common musical patterns or generic elements of a genre (such as chord progressions) are typically not protected.

Creative Intent and Independent Development

“Flowers,” released in January 2023, reflects deeply personal experiences tied to Cyrus’ past relationship with ex-husband Liam Hemsworth.

Lyrics like “We were good, we were gold… until we weren’t,” are directly tied to her own life events, such as the destruction of their Malibu home in a wildfire.

The Larger Context

Despite the legal drama, Cyrus remains steadfast. Winning Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the 2024 Grammys, “Flowers” resonated globally, partly due to its deeply personal lyrics and empowering message. In her acceptance speech, Cyrus celebrated the creative journey rather than the accolades, saying:
“This award is amazing, but I truly hope it changes nothing because my life was already beautiful yesterday.”

Mars himself is not named as a plaintiff in the lawsuit, leaving the case as a broader legal debate on copyright ownership rather than a direct artist-to-artist conflict.

While the legal proceedings unfold, “Flowers” continues to be celebrated as an anthem of self-empowerment and resilience. The case underscores the complexities of copyright law, especially when it comes to evaluating artistic similarities. Whether through personal experience or broader inspiration, Cyrus‘ creative vision remains an undeniable force in pop music.