Controversies are a part of history. Explore the biggest scandals linked to Bruno Mars.
Bruno Mars (Peter Gene Hernandez) is a highly acclaimed American singer-songwriter, musician, and record producer. Renowned for his dynamic stage presence, retro showmanship, and versatile musical style, Mars seamlessly blends pop, R&B, funk, soul, reggae, and rock elements in his work. He performs with his band, the Hooligans. In 2021, he formed Silk Sonic with Anderson .Paak, further cementing his position as a prominent figure in contemporary music.
2000: Copyright Certificate Issued to Proctor
In 2000, Demetrius Orlandus Proctor was issued a United States Copyright Office registration certificate for "Frisky Vol. 1 to 30 (Tapes)".
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March 31, 2011: Copyright Claimed by Proctor
On March 31, 2011, Demetrius Orlandus Proctor claimed to own the copyright to the music and lyrics of "Billionaire", though it was released a year prior.
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2013: Faced Categorization Issues and Racial Bias
In 2013, Bruno Mars revealed that record executives had trouble categorizing him and that "Nothin' on You" was rejected due to his race, making him feel like a "mutant".
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January 28, 2014: Copyright Lawsuit Filed
On January 28, 2014, Demetrius Orlandus Proctor filed a lawsuit claiming copyright infringement of the song "Billionaire" by McCoy and Mars.
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2015: Copyright Infringement Accusations for Uptown Funk
In 2015, "Uptown Funk" faced accusations of similarities with "Oops Up Side Your Head" and Viktorija argued that the song infringed on one of her tracks, though she did not sue.
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2016: Collage Sues Ronson and Mars
In 2016, electro-funk band Collage sued Ronson and Mars for allegedly copying their single, "Young Girls".
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2017: Lastrada Entertainment Files Lawsuit
In 2017, Lastrada Entertainment filed a lawsuit against Ronson and Mars, citing similarities between "Uptown Funk" and "More Bounce to the Ounce".
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2018: Accusations of Cultural Appropriation
In 2018, Bruno Mars was accused of cultural appropriation for profiting from black music and mimicking past artists, though various black celebrities dismissed the accusations.
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2021: Mars Responds to Cultural Appropriation Criticism
In 2021, Bruno Mars responded to criticism of cultural appropriation, emphasizing his influences from black artists like James Brown, Prince, and Michael Jackson.
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March 2024: Allegations of Gambling Debt
In March 2024, allegations surfaced claiming Bruno Mars was $50 million in debt due to gambling losses.
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March 18, 2024: MGM Denies Gambling Debt Allegations
On March 18, 2024, MGM Resorts denied the allegations that Bruno Mars had any debt with MGM.
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