Pop star Miley Cyrus is pushing back against recent copyright infringement claims regarding her chart-topping hit "Flowers," seeking dismissal of a lawsuit that alleges similarities with Bruno Mars' "When I Was Your Man."
The legal challenge comes from Tempo Music Investments, which owns partial rights to Bruno Mars' hit song through its acquisition of co-writer Philip Lawrence's catalog. In their September complaint, Tempo alleged that "Flowers" borrowed heavily from "When I Was Your Man," claiming the song "duplicates numerous melodic, harmonic, and lyrical elements."
Cyrus' legal team filed a response Wednesday, requesting the lawsuit's dismissal on technical grounds. Their main argument centers on Tempo's partial ownership status - since the company represents only one of four co-writers and lacks exclusive rights to "When I Was Your Man," Cyrus' attorneys contend Tempo lacks proper standing to pursue copyright infringement claims.
The controversy emerged shortly after "Flowers" debuted in January 2023, as listeners noted apparent parallels between the songs' lyrics. While Mars' track includes lines like "I should've bought you flowers / And held your hand," Cyrus' version states "I can buy myself flowers / And I can hold my own hand."
In a May 2023 British Vogue interview, Cyrus discussed her creative process for "Flowers," revealing the song underwent substantial evolution from its original concept. She explained that early versions featured a more melancholic tone, with different lyrics reflecting a more dependent perspective before evolving into its current empowerment anthem form.
The Grammy-winning "Flowers" has become one of Cyrus' biggest hits to date. As the legal proceedings continue, her team maintains that expert analysis would be necessary to properly evaluate any musical similarities between the two songs.