Did You Spot All of the Easter Eggs in Miley Cyrus' New Single?

Miley Cyrus released her latest single, "Flowers," on January 13, preceding her upcoming album launching in March. "Flowers" tells the story of Cyrus learning to love herself again after a difficult breakup. The single has already gained massive success, becoming the most streamed song in a single week on Spotify, and has fans anticipating the full album this spring. However, in addition to widespread success, the song has also sparked some fans to make connections between the lyrics and Cyrus' previous marriage to actor Liam Hemsworth, whom she split with in 2019 after a decade of on-again, off-again dating. While these connections are still just speculation, here are five of the potential references hidden within the song and music video.

The chorus of "Flowers" is an interpolation of the popular Bruno Mars song, "When I Was Your Man." Could this just be because Cyrus is a huge fan of Bruno Mars? Maybe. However, according to buzz online, Hemsworth once dedicated this song to her, making this reference potentially far more deliberate and personal. 

For a majority of the music video, Cyrus is seen dancing in a black suit. When the video was first released, people discussed whether or not it was the suit Hemsworth had worn on a red carpet in 2019 where he told Cyrus to behave herself, creating a tense and awkward moment for all involved. While the suit in the "Flowers" video is from the YSL fall 2022 collection, disproving the theory it belonged to her ex, the suits are similar and could have been chosen intentionally for this reason. 

While this reference is the most alleged with little proof, fans online have cited that while married to Cyrus, the actor had 14 affairs that all took place in the same Los Angeles villa. This villa then became the filming location for the "Flowers" music video. The rumor, started by a source close to Cyrus, has taken off online with many people reposting and sharing the allegation. If this is true, "Flowers" has certainly solidified itself as one of the most iconic breakup songs of the last few decades. 

Clothing holds all the meaning in the "Flowers" music video, so the gold dress Cyrus wears in the beginning is no exception. This has two potential references, with the more popular being that it is an ode to Jennifer Lawrence who was Hemsworth's co-star, and a rumored fling, during the "Hunger Games" franchise. Lawrence wore a gold gown with cutouts for the red carpet premiere of the first film, complete with a similar messy up-do like the one Cyrus wears in her video. A second theory, though, is that the gold gown is actually because of Hemsworth's new girlfriend, Gabriella Brooks, who wore gold for the couple's first red carpet debut. Both are plausible and both would pack a punch if intended by Cyrus. 

Personally, I find that the most interesting and *petty* reference from Cyrus' latest song is not hidden in the lyrics or video, but instead is that she released the song on Hemsworth's birthday. This could have been coincidental, sure, but releasing a breakup anthem on your ex's birthday when she has several more months before the album is even released feels pretty intentional and is definitely helping to fuel the speculation online. Whether or not this song is directly about Hemsworth, follow in her footsteps and buy yourself some flowers and shower in self-love!