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Miley Cyrus appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, May 22, and confessed to the host that he had a role in her infamous 2013 VMAs performance
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The Grammy winner explained that she used Kimmel’s show as a “trial run” to see if her controversial performance would work
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During their conversation, she also acknowledged that she’s happy Kimmel invited her back while she’s in her “new era”
Miley Cyrus is reflecting on her viral 2013 VMAs performance — and crediting Jimmy Kimmel for his help.
The 32-year-old Grammy-winning artist appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live on Thursday, May 22, and acknowledged that the late-night host has watched Cyrus grow before his very eyes. The singer explained that her first touch with the controversial Bangerz performances in 2013 began with an appearance on Kimmel’s show.
“Let me tell you, I am so happy to see you in my new era,” she began. “This new era is very sophisticated and I have to tell you, your show allowed me to create the VMAs in 2013.”
“I came here first and I kind of used the show as a trial run, you know, where I dance as a teddy bear like half naked, and everyone thought I was crazy,” she continued. “But to see if it was going to work, I did it here first.”
The “Angels Like You” singer performed an outdoor show with a few of her big hits on Kimmel’s show in June 2013.
Then, in August 2013, she notably performed at the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards, where she was nearly nude twerking performance with Robin Thicke. Despite shocking audiences, it catapulted her to new levels of controversy, while also becoming standard fare for the singer.
Since the performance, she has reflected on its impact on her career. In a 2018 interview with Wonderland magazine, she said it helped her grow and realize her potential to reach people.
“Not only was culture changed, but my life and career were changed forever,” she told the outlet. “It inspired me to use my platform for something much bigger. If the world is going to focus on me and what I am doing, then what I am doing should be impactful and it should be great.”
Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic
Miley Cyrus performs during the 2013 MTV Video Music Awards at the Barclays Center in August 2013
She then reflected on her “controversial” VMAs outfit in a 2023 British Vogue‘s Life in Looks video. The costume, she said while looking directly at the camera, “was extremely controversial and made a lot of people angry. I repeat, this teddy bear costume made a lot of people angry.”
She also explained the backstory behind the look. “This was inspired by a Todd James sculpture that I had fallen in love with. The bear reminded me of myself for some reason, I thought it was beautiful,” Cyrus shared.
Disney/Randy Holmes
Miley Cyrus on ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ on May 22, 2025
During Cyrus’ Thursday, May 22, appearance, she also chatted about her upcoming film, Something Beautiful, which will accompany her May 30 album of the same name.
The project was driven by the songs on the album’s tracklist, and she explained that fans shouldn’t expect a traditional film with a plot. “The music is the story. Every song is storytelling,” Cyrus explained.
She continued, saying, “Even though this has become very kind of psychedelic and over the top [like] everything that I do, but at the end of it, really the heart of it is just the music. Really, the storytelling. So there was no need for characterization because I’m the character. And I never want to become something or someone that I’m not.”
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Something Beautiful drops on Friday, May 30.
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