Miley Cyrus Unpacks Love, Loss, and the Unseen Truth Behind Her Divorce from Liam Hemsworth on Joe Rogan

During a candid and revealing appearance on Joe Rogan’s immensely popular podcast, “The Joe Rogan Experience,” global pop superstar Miley Cyrus delved deep into the complexities of her highly publicized marriage and subsequent divorce from actor Liam Hemsworth. Known for his ability to extract raw, honest conversations from his guests, often likening his interview style to a therapy session, Rogan provided the perfect platform for the then 27-year-old artist to share her untold narrative.

The interview, which aired on September 2, found Cyrus in a refreshingly open mood, discussing the emotional aftermath of her separation from Hemsworth, 30. While navigating the personal pain of a relationship ending, Miley revealed that the most arduous aspect wasn’t the dissolution of their love, but rather the relentless and often distorted media portrayal that followed. She spoke extensively about the profound challenge of grappling with personal heartache while simultaneously being subjected to intense public scrutiny and, in her words, being unjustly “villainized” by tabloids.

The Public Eye vs. Personal Reality: Navigating a High-Profile Divorce

“I just went through a very public divorce which f***ing sucked,” Cyrus admitted, laying bare the emotional weight of her experience. She clarified that the core pain wasn’t about her and someone she deeply loved realizing their feelings had evolved. “What really sucked about it wasn’t the fact that me and someone that I loved realized that we don’t love each other the way that we used to anymore. That’s okay, I can accept that,” she explained, highlighting a mature perspective on the natural ebbs and flows of relationships. Her real struggle, she articulated, was with the narrative spun by the media. “I can’t accept the villainizing and just all those stories,” she stated emphatically, referring to the relentless headlines that painted her in a negative light and failed to capture the nuanced reality of her personal journey.

This struggle with public perception versus personal truth was a recurring theme throughout the interview. Miley illuminated how events in her private life, which unfold over weeks and months, are often condensed into single, sensationalized moments by the media, completely devoid of their crucial context. She specifically referenced the widespread attention generated when she was photographed kissing Kaitlynn Carter, 31, in Lake Como, Italy, on August 9, 2019. The “Malibu” singer lamented that the public and media alike failed to consider the significant period of time, and the underlying circumstances within her marriage to Liam, that preceded this public display.

The Unseen Chapters: Bridging the Gap Between Private Life and Public Opinion

“It’s amazing to me the public thinks that there’s no gap of time that they didn’t see that could possibly be what led to this,” she continued, underscoring the instantaneous and often judgmental nature of celebrity news. She expressed frustration with the simplistic and often inaccurate timeline created by the media. “It’s not, ‘One day you were happy on the carpet and the next day you were making out with your friend in Italy, what the f***?'” This quote perfectly encapsulates the disconnect between a celebrity’s lived experience and the narrative constructed by the outside world. Just a day after these photographs emerged, Miley officially announced her split from Liam, effectively ending their eight-month marriage, though their relationship spanned over a decade on and off.

However, Cyrus stressed a crucial point often overlooked: “There’s a lot of time in between that you didn’t see.” This “unseen time” represents the personal journey, the difficult conversations, the emotional processing, and the gradual evolution of feelings that truly led to her and Kaitlynn Carter’s connection. It highlights the immense pressure celebrities face to maintain a façade of perfection, even as their personal lives are in turmoil, and the public’s insatiable appetite for immediate, often decontextualized, drama.

Podcasts: A Platform for Authenticity in a Fast-Paced World

Miley expressed profound appreciation for modern platforms like Joe Rogan’s podcast, which allow her to communicate directly with her fans and disseminate her truth without filters or delays. “People hear it right now, so you’re getting the real information,” she explained, drawing a stark contrast to traditional media formats like magazine interviews. She recounted a personal anecdote that vividly illustrated this point: “I shot a magazine cover, I did an interview, I was, ‘La la, in love with my boyfriend.’ I mean, that literally happened when I did Vanity Fair.”

The timeline of events for that particular cover story perfectly encapsulated the inherent problem with traditional print media for public figures whose lives are constantly evolving. “I flew there, like, a week after I had gotten married and by the time the damn thing was on the stands I was divorced! It was old news!” This experience profoundly affected her, demonstrating how printed narratives can become outdated and irrelevant, or even misleading, by the time they reach the public, further perpetuating an inaccurate image. In an age of instant information, the ability for an artist to control their narrative and speak directly to their audience through podcasts offers a powerful alternative to the often-skewed lens of mass media.

“When It’s Over, It’s Over”: Miley’s Philosophy on Relationships and Independence

Beyond discussing her divorce, Miley also shared deeply personal insights into her philosophy on relationships and her approach to endings. She confessed that she has often been perceived as “cold” by past partners due to her decisive nature once a relationship has run its course. “I think men in my life have told me that I’m a cold f***ing bitch because I leave when things are done,” she revealed with startling honesty. “When it’s over it’s over and your dead to me and we move on.” This direct, no-nonsense approach, while perhaps jarring to some, speaks to a strong sense of self-preservation and a clear understanding of her own boundaries and emotional needs. It’s a testament to her independent spirit, forged in the intense crucible of child stardom and constant public life.

This assertive stance on relationship conclusions has led her to reflect on the type of partner she seeks. She admitted that she believes she needs to be with a more mature individual, someone who understands and respects her independence rather than attempting to control or complete her. “That’s why I’m looking for an older man,” Miley revealed, elaborating on her specific requirements for a future partner. She clarified that her desire for an older partner isn’t rooted in a need for financial or emotional support, but rather for a reciprocal level of self-sufficiency. “This is what I’m thinking: I don’t need a man or a woman that’s gonna take care of me, I can take care of me. I’ve got money and I’ve got all the things I need to take care of myself.”

Her requirements extend beyond mere independence; she seeks a partner who is equally capable of managing their own life and responsibilities. “I need them to be able to take care of them,” she emphasized, indicating a desire for a partnership built on mutual strength and individual completeness, rather than codependency. While she expressed a slight ambivalence about the necessity of a relationship, she acknowledged the appeal of companionship. “I guess I don’t really ‘need’ to be in a relationship at all…but it does sound nice.” This statement underscored her deep-seated independence, a trait that has become increasingly prominent in her public persona and artistic expression.

At the time of this illuminating podcast appearance, Miley had just recently split from singer Cody Simpson in mid-August. This separation marked a significant turning point, making her single for the first time since 2015. Prior to that, her life had largely revolved around her on-again, off-again relationship with Liam Hemsworth, which began in 2009 and culminated in their reunion in 2015. Her time on Joe Rogan’s podcast therefore offered a powerful moment of reflection, allowing her to articulate her journey through love, loss, and the relentless glare of the public eye, all while emerging with a clearer, more defined sense of self and her future path.