Miley Cyrus Sued Over 'Flowers' in Lawsuit, Accused of Copying Bruno Mars' 'When I Was Your Man'

Mar. 15, 2025

Bruno Mars, Miley Cyrus.Photo:John Esparza via Getty; Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

John Esparza via Getty; Todd Owyoung/NBC via Getty

Miley Cyrusis being sued in a new lawsuit over the alleged similarities between her 2023 hit “Flowers” andBruno Mars' 2013 track “When I Was Your Man.”

“It is undeniable based on the combination and number of similarities between the two recordings that ‘Flowers’ would not exist without ‘When I Was Your Man,’ " the documents state, adding that “Flowers” “duplicates numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements” of Mars' track.

Bruno Mars and Miley Cyrus are pictured at the 2018 Grammy Awards.Kevin Mazur/Getty

Kevin Mazur/Getty

“Accordingly, Plaintiff brings this action for copyright infringement arising out of Defendants' unauthorized reproduction, distribution and exploitation of ‘When I Was Your Man,’ " the complaint adds.

Tempo Music Investments also lists “Flowers” songwriters Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack — who wrote the track with Cyrus — among multiple defendants, along with Sony Music Publishing and Apple, in the suit. Mars is not named as a plaintiff in the filing.

Among the accusations, the suit states that “the opening vocal line from the chorus of ‘Flowers’ begins and ends on the same chords as the opening vocal line in the verse of ‘When I Was Your Man.’ "

Tempo Music Investments wants Cyrus, 31, and the defendants listed in the suit to stop reproducing, distributing or publicly performing “Flowers.” The company is also seeking damages, but the amount is yet to be determined.

Reps for Cyrus and Mars did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.

Miley Cyrus at the 2024 Grammy Awards.VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

VALERIE MACON/AFP via Getty Images

The lawsuit comes after Cyruswon record of the year at the 2024 Grammysfor “Flowers” on Feb. 4. She also won the best pop solo performance gong for the track.

On Jan. 13, Cyruscelebrated the one-year anniversaryof the empowerment anthem’s release, sharing a couple of black-and-white photos of herself and, fittingly, a flower, onInstagram.

“One year ago today ‘Flowers’ started making people happy & that makes me happy. Love you. Thank you,” she wrote, before signing off the message with, “XO MC.”

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The track spent eight weeks at the top of the U.S.Billboardcharts and skyrocketed to the top of Spotify’s charts, breaking a record in the process.

“Flowers” — which seemingly contains several references toCyrus' relationshipwith ex-husbandLiam Hemsworth— became themost-streamed song in a single weekin the app’s history, beating out the previous record-holder,BTS' “Butter.”

Meanwhile, Mars' “When I Was Your Man” also topped theBillboardHot 100 in April 2013 weeks after it was first released.

source: people.com