The Twerk Heard Round The World: 5 Shocking Truths About Miley Cyrus And Robin Thicke’s VMA Performance A Decade Later

The infamous 2013 MTV Video Music Awards (VMA) performance by Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke remains one of the most polarizing and career-defining moments in modern pop history, a spectacle that, even today in late 2025, continues to be referenced as the ultimate example of "shock value." The joint performance, a mashup of Cyrus's "We Can't Stop" and Thicke’s ubiquitous summer hit "Blurred Lines," was a deliberate, chaotic, and unprecedented break from Cyrus's clean-cut Disney past, featuring a latex bikini, a giant foam finger, and the twerking that instantly dominated global headlines and social media. This single, four-minute moment was not just a performance; it was a cultural reset that irrevocably altered the trajectory of both artists’ careers and the landscape of celebrity self-reinvention. This deep dive examines the controversial event, the immediate fallout, and the surprising, candid reflections from both Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke years later, revealing how a moment of manufactured chaos became a catalyst for long-term change.

Miley Cyrus and Robin Thicke: A Dual Biography Profile

The two artists who took the stage that night in 2013 came from vastly different backgrounds, yet their careers converged in a moment of shared, explosive controversy.

Miley Ray Cyrus

• Full Name: Destiny Hope Cyrus (Legally changed to Miley Ray Cyrus).
• Born: November 23, 1992, in Franklin, Tennessee, U.S.
• Career Highlights: Rose to fame as the title character in the Disney Channel series *Hannah Montana* (2006–2011). Her career is defined by constant reinvention, moving from teen pop to rock, country, and experimental genres.
• Notable Works: *Hannah Montana* franchise, *Bangerz* (album, 2013), "Wrecking Ball," "Party in the U.S.A.," "Malibu," "Flowers" (2023 Grammy Winner).
• Key Entity: Daughter of country singer Billy Ray Cyrus.

Robin Alan Thicke

• Full Name: Robin Charles Thicke (Professionally known as Robin Thicke).
• Born: March 10, 1977, in Los Angeles, California, U.S.
• Career Highlights: A Canadian-American singer, songwriter, and record producer known for R&B and soul music. He achieved global success with the single "Blurred Lines" in 2013.
• Notable Works: "Blurred Lines," "Lost Without U," "Magic," "Sex Therapy."
• Key Entity: Son of actor Alan Thicke and actress Gloria Loring.

The Anatomy of a Cultural Shockwave: What Really Happened at the 2013 VMAs

The performance at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on August 25, 2013, was designed to be provocative, but few anticipated the intensity of the reaction. Miley Cyrus, shedding her *Hannah Montana* persona, emerged from a giant teddy bear structure, wearing a beige latex bikini and sporting her new signature short, platinum-blonde haircut. The first half of the set was Cyrus's "We Can't Stop," featuring backup dancers in teddy bear leotards. The second half saw Robin Thicke take the stage in a black-and-white striped suit, transitioning into "Blurred Lines." The most controversial moments involved Cyrus using a giant foam finger to make explicit gestures and grinding (twerking) against the fully-clothed Thicke. The reaction was immediate and widespread. Social media exploded with criticism, complaints were filed with the FCC regarding indecency, and countless think pieces debated the ethics of the performance, particularly the power dynamic between the 20-year-old Cyrus and the 36-year-old Thicke. The moment became a viral phenomenon, cementing the term "twerking" in the mainstream lexicon.

Retrospective: The Shocking Truths They Revealed Years Later

While the immediate post-VMA comments were largely defensive, the true impact and candid reflections came years later, offering a more nuanced view of the infamous collaboration and its fallout.

1. Miley Cyrus’s Life Was "Changed Forever" by the Performance

In the years following the event, Miley Cyrus has repeatedly acknowledged the massive, irreversible shift the VMA performance caused. She stated that her life was "changed forever" after the foam finger ride and the media frenzy that followed. Cyrus later reflected that the entire *Bangerz* era, which the performance launched, was a deliberate, albeit chaotic, attempt to distance herself from her Disney identity. She aimed to use the massive platform created by the shock for "something much bigger" afterward, suggesting the controversy was a necessary evil for her artistic evolution.

2. Robin Thicke Was Completely Overshadowed and Unprepared

Despite being the co-headliner with the mega-hit "Blurred Lines," Robin Thicke was largely viewed as a passive participant, standing still while Cyrus performed her routine. Thicke later admitted he was warned in advance about the raunchy nature of Cyrus's plans but agreed to play along. Interestingly, Thicke initially claimed he "didn't feel anything sexual" about the performance, calling it "silly." However, the lasting legacy is that the performance, intended to promote his song, became entirely about Miley Cyrus’s transformation, effectively sidelining his career moment. The controversy also coincided with the legal battles over the songwriting credits for "Blurred Lines," further complicating his public image.

3. The Performance Was a Deliberate Career Strategy to "Make History"

Cyrus was unapologetic immediately after the VMAs, telling MTV News that she wanted to "make history" and that she didn't pay attention to the negative comments, noting that people were still talking about it days later. This intention confirms the performance was a calculated move to generate maximum attention, a strategy that succeeded wildly. It served as a lightning rod for the entire *Bangerz* album and era, proving that, for better or worse, "shock value" was still a potent tool for pop stardom reinvention.

4. The VMA Moment Became a Decade-Long Pop Culture Reference

A decade later, the performance is still cited as a watershed moment for the VMAs and pop culture at large. Retrospective articles published around the 10-year anniversary (2023) highlighted how the moment defined the "shock era" and potentially marked the last time the VMAs achieved truly global, inescapable attention. The sheer volume of media coverage, parent complaints, and celebrity reactions (including the famously awkward reaction of the Smith family in the audience) solidified its status as an iconic, if uncomfortable, cultural touchstone.

5. The Performance Became a Symbol of Female Sexual Agency and Its Backlash

While initially criticized as raunchy and explicit, the performance is now often re-examined through the lens of female sexual agency. Many commentators now view it as Miley Cyrus taking control of her image and sexuality in a public, aggressive way, shattering the Disney mold. The intense backlash she received, compared to the relative pass given to Thicke (who was older and fully clothed), highlighted a persistent double standard in the music industry regarding the sexual expression of male and female artists. This re-evaluation has become a key part of the performance’s lasting topical authority in discussions about celebrity, feminism, and media scrutiny.

The Lasting Impact on Pop Culture and Entity Evolution

The "Miley and Robin Thicke" VMA performance is more than just a shocking memory; it is a case study in celebrity evolution and the power of controversy. For Miley Cyrus, it was the necessary, painful birth of a mature artist, leading to subsequent, critically acclaimed eras like *Plastic Hearts* and *Endless Summer Vacation*. For Robin Thicke, it was a moment of global exposure that, unfortunately, was quickly overshadowed by the controversy and subsequent legal issues surrounding his biggest hit. The event remains a powerful entity in pop culture, a raw example of a celebrity deliberately choosing chaos to control their narrative and ensure their relevance for years to come.