Miley Cyrus can buy herself flowers…and a lawyer, which the pop star now needs after being sued for allegedly copying Bruno Mars in her 2023 hit “Flowers.”
Cyrus, 31, was sued for copyright infringement Monday by Tempo Music Investments, which now owns a portion of the copyright to Mars’ 2013 song, “When I Was Your Man.” The singer, born Peter Gene Hernandez, is not listed as a plaintiff, according to court documents obtained by People.
“It is undeniable, given the combination and number of similarities between the two recordings, that ‘Flowers’ would not exist without ‘When I Was Your Man,'” the suit says, claiming that many people have “recognized the striking similarities” between the songs.
“Flowers,” which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, where it remained for eight weeks, “would duplicate many of the melodic, harmonic and lyrical elements” of its predecessor.
As part of the complaint, the company asked Cyrus and her fellow defendants, as well as “Flowers” songwriters Gregory Hein and Michael Pollack, to stop reproducing, distributing or publicly performing the Grammy-winning song, according to People.
It is unclear how much damages Tempo Music Investments is seeking.
Considered a reference to the end of her marriage to ex-husband Liam Hemsworth, Cyrus’ song “Flowers” spent 55 weeks on the Billboard charts. The song earned Cyrus her first two Grammy Awards, for Record of the Year and Best Pop Solo Performance.
“When I Was Your Man,” meanwhile, topped the charts for one week and spent a total of 35 weeks on the Billboard Hot 100. Mars received a Grammy nomination for Best Pop Solo Performance for the song.
Cyrus’ attorney did not immediately respond to the Daily News’ request for comment.
