Miley Cyrus is facing a lawsuit for copyright infringement, accused of borrowing significant elements from Bruno Mars’ song When I Was Your Man for her 2023 hit single Flowers. According to a report from TMZ on Tuesday, September 17, the lawsuit was filed by Tempo Music Investments, which holds part of the copyright for Mars’ 2012 track.
The company claims that Cyrus and her team intentionally copied key parts of When I Was Your Man, including the chorus, harmony, melody, chord progressions, and lyrics, in creating Flowers. In the lawsuit, Tempo Music stated, “Flowers would not exist without When I Was Your Man,” citing numerous similarities between the two songs.
Tempo Music is seeking monetary damages, though the amount has not yet been specified. The company is also demanding that Cyrus stop reproducing, distributing, or performing Flowers.
Neither Cyrus nor Mars, who is not a plaintiff in the case, has commented on the lawsuit. Flowers, released in January 2023 as part of Cyrus’ album Endless Summer Vacation, earned her two Grammy awards earlier this year, including Best Pop Solo Performance and Record of the Year. Mars’ When I Was Your Man was featured in his 2012 album Unorthodox Jukebox and was nominated for Best Pop Solo Performance at the 56th Annual Grammy Awards.