Why Miley Cyrus Is Blaming Her Mom for This Viral Controversy

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Miley Cyrus is calling out her mother over her controversial 2009 Teen Choice Awards performance.

The 32-year-old recalled her viral performance of “Party in the U.S.A.” while speaking with her sister, Brandi Cyrus, for Spotify’s Billions Club series. The controversy was due to the then-17-year-old dancing on top of an ice cream cart, which had a pole attached to it.

Miley has said the pole was for stability, as she had been wearing heels. However, many described it as a “stripper pole.” The fact that, at the time, Miley was mostly known for playing Disney Channel’s Hannah Montana, made the moment all the more scandalous.

Brandi brought up the infamous moment during their Billions Club interview, and Miley couldn’t help but point out whose idea it had been in the first place. “This is going to be no surprise to you,” she said, before asking her sister, “Do you know whose idea that was?” Without hesitation, Brandi answered, “Tish Cyrus?”

“Yup, that was my mom’s idea. So, she always lets me take the blame,” Miley shared. “When I got in trouble the next day, you know who was nowhere to be found?” Then she and Brandi said “Tish Cyrus” at the same time. However, Miley did have a fond memory of that moment, noting it was a personal milestone for her.

“But the thing that I remember most about that performance was it was the first time I ever wore real diamond jewelry on stage. So you guys remember a little old ice cream truck. I remember the diamonds,” she said, with a dramatic flair.

In another clip from the interview, Miley celebrated her growth as an artist, noting that “Party in the U.S.A.” was designed around a collection that she had created for Walmart, but now she is the face of Gucci and Dolce & Gabbana. “I feel like it really shows the evolution of my career,” she said, adding, “From Walmart to Dolce.”

The Grammy winner’s Billions Club interview highlighted her singles — “Party in the U.S.A.,” “We Can’t Stop,” “Wrecking Ball,” “Nothing Breaks Like a Heart,” “Angels Like You,” and “Flowers” — from 2009 to 2023 that have over a billion streams on Spotify.

When Brandi noted that “Wrecking Ball” was her first No. 1 single, Miley quipped, “Rude!” When she was asked what inspired the emotional song, the Disney Channel alum kept it simple, but honest, seemingly calling out ex Liam Hemsworth. “My man wasn’t acting right,” she shared, before adding an emphatic, “True!”

She and The Hunger Games star made their red carpet debut as a couple in March 2010, after meeting on the set of Nicholas Sparks movie The Last Song. The on-off couple, who called off one engagement in September 2013, went on to marry in December 2018. However, they broke up less than a year after marrying, and finalized their divorce in January 2020.

Miley is currently dating fellow musician Maxx Morando, to whom she was first linked in January 2022.