Miley Cyrus Faces Lawsuit Accusing Her of Plagiarizing Bruno Mars for Grammy-Winning Hit

Cyrus' 'Malibu' Under Scrutiny for Similarities to Mars' 'Uptown Funk'

Miley Cyrus is facing a lawsuit alleging that she plagiarized Bruno Mars' hit song "Uptown Funk" for her own Grammy-winning track "Malibu." 

The lawsuit, filed by songwriter Deezle, claims that Cyrus copied the melody, lyrics, and overall structure of "Uptown Funk" without authorization. The complaint includes a detailed musical analysis comparing the two songs and highlighting the alleged similarities.

Key Allegations in the Lawsuit:

• The chorus of "Malibu" is nearly identical to the chorus of "Uptown Funk," with the same chord progression and melodic contour.
• The lyrics of "Malibu" share striking similarities to those of "Uptown Funk," including references to "city lights" and "sunlight."
• The overall arrangement and instrumentation of "Malibu" are highly reminiscent of "Uptown Funk," featuring a funky bassline, brassy horns, and a driving rhythm.

Cyrus Denies Plagiarism, Citing Inspiration

Cyrus has denied the allegations of plagiarism, claiming that she was inspired by "Uptown Funk" but did not directly copy it. She stated that she wrote "Malibu" with her co-writers, including Melanie Fontana and Justin Tranter, and that they were not aware of any similarities to Mars' song.

Cyrus' legal team has filed a motion to dismiss the lawsuit, arguing that the similarities between the two songs are not substantial enough to constitute copyright infringement. They also contend that Cyrus had a valid defense of "independent creation," as she was not aware of "Uptown Funk" at the time she wrote "Malibu."

Legal Experts Weigh In

Legal experts have expressed mixed opinions on the merits of the lawsuit. Some believe that the similarities between the two songs are striking and could support a finding of copyright infringement. Others argue that the differences are significant enough to defeat a claim of plagiarism.

The outcome of the lawsuit remains uncertain and may depend on the specific evidence presented by both sides. If the lawsuit is successful, Cyrus could face significant financial penalties and reputational damage.