Miley Cyrus sued for allegedly ripping off Bruno Mars song in Grammy-winning ‘Flowers’

Miley Cyrus sued for allegedly ripping off Bruno Mars song in Grammy-winning 'Flowers'

As a seasoned moviegoer who’s seen more legal dramas than I care to remember, this copyright infringement case between Miley Cyrus and Bruno Mars feels like a modern-day remake of “High Fidelity.” The parallels between their songs are undeniably striking, and it seems that the flowers in question might be the ones from “When I Was Your Man” being transplanted into “Flowers.


A legal dispute has arisen over the alleged similarities between Miley Cyrus’ award-winning song “Flowers” and Bruno Mars’ “When I Was Your Man”, as stated in a recent copyright infringement lawsuit filed against the pop star.

On Monday, Tempo Music Investments, a firm asserting ownership rights to Mars’ 2012 song, lodged its complaint in the U.S. District Court for the Central District of California. The lawsuit names Miley Cyrus, her ‘Flowers’ collaborators, various music companies such as Sony Music, Apple, and iHeartMedia as defendants. It alleges that these parties have been engaging in unauthorized reproduction, distribution, and exploitation of the song ‘When I Was Your Man.’

On Tuesday, The Times didn’t receive an immediate response from Cyrus, Mars, or Tempo Music Investment when they requested a comment.

Based on documents obtained by The Times, Tempo Music claims they obtained the rights to “When I Was Your Man” in March 2020 through the purchase of songwriter Philip Lawrence’s collection of songs. Lawrence collaborated with Mars (a 15-time Grammy winner) and others to compose this heartfelt breakup ballad, which first appeared on Mars’ second album “Unorthodox Jukebox” in 2012.

In January 2023, Miley Cyrus debuted her self-empowerment ballad “Flowers,” a number that resonated deeply with audiences following her split from Liam Hemsworth, who starred in the Hunger Games series. The lyrics of this song convey a message of self-love and personal growth after heartache, as Miley takes control of her happiness post-breakup. Interestingly, listeners on social media observed striking similarities between “Flowers” and the tune “When I Was Your Man.

Music company Tempo claims that the song “Flowers” by Cyrus resembles multiple melodies, chords, and lyrics from Mars’ song, implying that “Flowers” wouldn’t have been created without the influence of “When I Was Your Man.

The criticism points out apparent resemblances, particularly in the choruses, between the song “Flowers” and a verse and chorus in “When I Was Your Man.” Notably, they share lyrics about purchasing flowers, holding hands, and conversing for extended periods. According to Tempo Music, these musical similarities were not by chance.

The defendants didn’t ask for or obtain approval to replicate or blend any part of ‘When I Was Your Man’ within ‘Flowers,’ according to the court document.

Tempo Music argues that Cyrus and other defendants’ unauthorized reproduction, distribution, performance, and/or creation of a derivative work based on Mars’ song violates their rights. Furthermore, the lawsuit states that the actions of the defendants have been, and are still being, deliberate and conscious.

As a music enthusiast, I’m sharing that, according to the lawsuit filed, Tempo Music is requesting a long-term court order to prevent the defendants from reproducing, distributing, or publicly performing the song “Flowers.” Furthermore, they are seeking compensation for various aspects such as lost profits, statutory damages, legal fees, and any other justifiable relief.

Earlier this year at the 66th Grammy Awards, I had the incredible opportunity to perform “Flowers” and I was thrilled to win my very first two awards! These victories were in the prestigious categories of Record of the Year and Pop Solo Performance. What an unforgettable night it was!

She expressed her delight at receiving the Record of the Year award but emphasized that she hopes it doesn’t alter anything because her life was already wonderful yesterday. She added that not everyone gets a Grammy, but everyone in the world is extraordinary, so please don’t view this accolade as significant, even though it holds great importance to her.

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2024-09-17 23:01

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