Miley Cyrus is fighting back against claims that her hit song “Flowers” plagiarized Bruno Mars’ 2013 track “When I Was Your Man.” The lawsuit, brought by Tempo Music Investments, accuses Cyrus and her co-writers of copying “melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements,” alleging that Flowers is a “derivative work” heavily influenced by Mars’ original song. Tempo Music, which owns rights for one of When I Was Your Man’s four writers, argues that Cyrus’ song achieved its success by exploiting these similarities.
Cyrus’ legal team has filed a motion in a Los Angeles federal court to dismiss the case. They argue that Tempo Music lacks exclusivity over the song’s copyright, as Bruno Mars and two other co-writers are not plaintiffs. In their filing, Cyrus and her co-writers “categorically deny copying” and emphasize the substantial differences between the two songs. They further contend that the alleged similarities are unprotected musical “building blocks” and not subject to copyright.
The legal team also pointed out that Flowers is entirely original in its arrangement and execution, dismissing Tempo Music’s claim as unfounded. Released in January 2023, Flowers became Miley Cyrus’ most successful song to date, winning Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance at the Grammys.
Bruno Mars has not personally filed any complaint regarding Flowers. As the legal battle unfolds, Cyrus’ representatives continue to stand by the originality of the record, maintaining that its success is a testament to her artistry rather than any alleged copying.
