11 Years Later: The Full Story Behind Robin Thicke And Miley Cyrus's VMA 'Malfunction' And Their 2024 Retrospectives

The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) will forever be etched in pop culture history, not for a groundbreaking musical moment, but for a spectacle of controversy that launched a thousand headlines. On August 25, 2013, the world watched as pop star Miley Cyrus, fresh from shedding her Disney-fied Hannah Montana image, took the stage with R&B singer Robin Thicke for a performance of his chart-topping hit "Blurred Lines" that was instantly deemed shocking and provocative. This single, polarizing five-minute segment effectively ended one pop era and launched another, creating a cultural touchstone that is still discussed today, even as recently as the December 18, 2025.

The performance, which featured Cyrus twerking on Thicke, wearing a latex bikini, and wielding an oversized foam finger, became an immediate lightning rod for criticism, debate, and endless memes. While Robin Thicke's career was already at its peak with the success of "Blurred Lines," the performance became Miley Cyrus's definitive declaration of independence from her past. A decade later, the artists have offered vastly different perspectives on the event, with Cyrus herself offering a fresh, self-deprecating take on the "malfunction" at the 2024 Grammy Awards, proving the moment's lasting impact.

The Architects of Controversy: Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus Biography

To understand the magnitude of the 2013 VMA performance, one must first look at the contrasting careers and public images of the two artists involved. The collision of Thicke’s smooth R&B persona and Cyrus’s rebellious artistic shift created the perfect storm.

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Miley Cyrus Profile

• Full Name: Destiny Hope Cyrus (Legally changed to Miley Ray Cyrus)
• Born: November 23, 1992, in Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
• Parents: Billy Ray Cyrus (Country Star) and Tish Cyrus (Producer/Actress)
• Career Start: Achieved global fame as the title character in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana (2006–2011).
• Musical Style: Known for her versatile and constantly evolving sound, ranging from pop and country pop to hip hop, psychedelic rock, and pop rock.
• Key Albums: Bangerz (2013), Plastic Hearts (2020), Endless Summer Vacation (2023).
• Recent Highlights: Won her first two Grammy Awards in 2024 for "Flowers."

Robin Thicke Profile

• Full Name: Robin Alan Thicke
• Born: March 10, 1977, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Parents: Alan Thicke (Actor, best known for Growing Pains) and Gloria Loring (Actress/Singer)
• Career Start: Began writing and producing music in his late teens, working with artists like Usher and Christina Aguilera.
• Musical Style: Primarily R&B, soul, and pop, often described as a blue-eyed soul singer.
• Breakthrough Hit: "Lost Without U" (2006).
• Biggest Hit: "Blurred Lines" (2013), featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams, which became a global phenomenon despite significant controversy.
• Current Work: Continues to release music and has served as a judge on the reality competition show The Masked Singer.

The Infamous 2013 VMA Performance: A Cultural Shockwave

The 2013 MTV Video Music Awards were intended to be a showcase for Robin Thicke’s mega-hit "Blurred Lines," which had dominated the summer charts. However, the event quickly became a launch platform for Miley Cyrus’s new, provocative persona, a deliberate move to distance herself from the Disney brand.

The Anatomy of the Shock

The performance began with Cyrus singing her hit "We Can't Stop" in a teddy bear-themed outfit, surrounded by dancers in similar attire. The energy shifted dramatically when Thicke appeared to perform "Blurred Lines." Cyrus stripped down to a nude-colored latex bikini, an outfit that itself drew immediate scrutiny. The ensuing minutes were a blend of raunchy choreography, including the now-famous twerking on Thicke, and the use of the giant foam finger in suggestive ways.

Immediate Backlash and Aftermath

The reaction was swift and overwhelmingly negative from many corners, including parents' groups, critics, and even Thicke's mother, Gloria Loring, who expressed confusion. The performance was criticized for being overtly sexualized, and the dynamic between the 20-year-old Cyrus and the 36-year-old Thicke was particularly scrutinized.

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• Miley's Intent: Cyrus later stated that the intention was to "make history" and create a memorable, talked-about moment, which she undeniably achieved. She embraced the controversy, seeing it as a necessary step in her artistic liberation.
• Thicke's Role: Robin Thicke later confirmed that he was warned about Miley's raunchy plans and agreed to play along, stating the goal was to "shock people." However, he faced less scrutiny than Cyrus, a double standard that became a point of discussion in the ensuing commentary.
• The Foam Finger: The simple prop became an entity unto itself, symbolizing the performance's provocative nature and generating widespread debate about the sexualization of young women in pop music.

The Lasting Legacy: From Twerking to 'Malfunction' in 2024

Over a decade later, the VMA performance remains a key reference point for both artists. It defined a tumultuous period in Cyrus's life, which she has since moved past, and is often cited as a moment that overshadowed Thicke's musical accomplishments at the time.

Miley Cyrus’s 2024 Retrospective

The most recent and compelling commentary on the event came from Miley Cyrus herself at the 2024 Grammy Awards. While accepting her award for "Flowers," she playfully referenced the controversial era, calling her twerking phase a "malfunction."

This self-aware, humorous take suggests a maturity and distance from the intense period of her career. By labeling it a "malfunction," Cyrus acknowledges the chaotic nature of her artistic transition without fully disowning the intention behind the performance. This fresh perspective, delivered on one of music's biggest stages in 2024, demonstrates that the cultural conversation surrounding the 2013 VMAs is far from over.

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The Topical Authority of the Moment

The Robin Thicke and Miley Cyrus VMA performance is not just a piece of pop history; it is a critical case study in several topical areas:

• Artistic Rebranding: It is the quintessential example of a child star's dramatic and deliberate break from their established image.
• Feminist Critique: The event sparked intense discussion on female sexuality, agency, and the media's disproportionate criticism of young female performers compared to their male counterparts.
• The Power of Virality: Occurring at the dawn of peak social media, the performance was one of the first truly viral cultural moments, demonstrating the immediate, global reach of live televised events. The Twitter eruption that followed set a new precedent for celebrity controversy.

While Robin Thicke has continued his career, notably as a panelist on The Masked Singer, and Miley Cyrus has evolved into a critically acclaimed artist, the image of them together on the 2013 VMA stage is an indelible part of their narratives. It was a performance that successfully shocked, polarized, and ultimately achieved its goal: to ensure that the world would never look at Miley Cyrus—or a foam finger—the same way again.