Miley Cyrus is looking back on her headline-making 2013 MTV Video Music Awards performance — and giving credit to Jimmy Kimmel for playing an unexpected role in setting the stage.
The 32-year-old Grammy winner appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! on Thursday, May 22, where she reminisced about her journey and acknowledged that Kimmel has witnessed her evolution over the years. During the conversation, Cyrus revealed that the beginnings of her now-infamous Bangerz era were actually rooted in a visit to Kimmel’s late-night 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.”
The singer explained that she used her appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live! as a sort of warm-up act for what would become one of the most talked-about performances of the decade.
“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.”
Back in June 2013, Cyrus performed an outdoor concert segment on the show, delivering some of her hit songs as she leaned further into her edgy, post-Disney image. Just two months later, in August, she took the stage at the MTV VMAs for a performance that would go viral worldwide. Wearing a barely-there outfit and twerking alongside Robin Thicke, Cyrus shocked audiences and cemented her image as a bold and controversial performer.
Though the moment drew criticism, it also marked a turning point in her career. Reflecting on its long-term significance, she shared in a 2018 Wonderland magazine interview that it helped her recognize her influence and the importance of using her platform intentionally.
"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."
© Mike CoppolaIn a 2023 British Vogue Life in Looks video, Cyrus revisited her VMAs outfit, which featured a teddy bear-themed costume that caused quite a stir at the time. Looking directly into the camera, she reflected: "This was extremely controversial and made a lot of people angry. I repeat, this teddy bear costume made a lot of people angry."
She also offered insight into the inspiration 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.
