Miley Cyrus is reportedly concerned about being forced to reveal personal details regarding her ex-husband, Liam Hemsworth, in an ongoing copyright lawsuit. The pop star, 31, is being sued for allegedly copying elements of Bruno Mars’ 2012 hit When I Was Your Man in her Grammy-winning song Flowers.
Insiders told DailyMail.com that while Miley is not too worried about the lawsuit itself, she is unsettled by the possibility of having to confirm that Flowers was inspired by her relationship with Hemsworth. The two were married in 2018 before divorcing in 2020, and fans have long speculated that Flowers was a response to Hemsworth’s rumored infidelity.
The lawsuit, filed by Tempo Music, claims that Flowers bears significant similarities to Bruno Mars’ track, particularly in melody, harmonies, and chord progressions. Although Mars is not named in the lawsuit, the investment company alleges that Miley’s song intentionally copies key elements of When I Was Your Man.
The lawsuit claims that Flowers could not exist without the influence of Mars’ song, accusing Miley of “intentionally copying” parts of the composition. Tempo Music asserts that some of Miley’s lyrics in Flowers, such as the chorus, are direct responses to the lyrics of When I Was Your Man, which Hemsworth reportedly dedicated to Miley during their relationship. Hemsworth is also said to have had the song played at their wedding, deepening the connection between the two songs.
In When I Was Your Man, Mars sings about regret and lost love, with lyrics like, “I should have bought you flowers and held your hand.” Miley’s Flowers flips this narrative, with her singing, “I can buy myself flowers, I can hold my own hand,” in what many fans have interpreted as a declaration of independence post-divorce. The song’s release on January 13, Hemsworth’s birthday, further fueled speculation.
Despite these parallels, Miley’s primary concern reportedly lies with the potential requirement to publicly acknowledge Hemsworth as the song’s inspiration. “Miley only cared that he knew it was for him,” the source added. “But revealing it was specifically about Liam publicly and on record is very unsettling.”
The lawsuit filed by Tempo Music asks for damages and seeks to prevent Miley from distributing or performing Flowers in the future. The song was a massive commercial success, topping charts worldwide, and earned multiple Grammy nominations, including for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
Miley has not yet publicly commented on the lawsuit. Since her divorce from Hemsworth, she has moved on with musician Maxx Morando, while Hemsworth is in a long-term relationship with model Gabriella Brooks.
