# Wrecking Ball
> Wrecking Ball is a 2013 participatory meme born from Miley Cyrus's provocative music video, defined by countless parodies imitating her iconic imagery—swinging on a wrecking ball and licking a sledgehammer.
"Wrecking Ball" is a music video meme based on Miley Cyrus's 2013 power ballad of the same name. The video, which features Cyrus nude on a swinging wrecking ball and licking a sledgehammer, broke the Vevo record for most views in 24 hours and triggered an explosion of parody videos across Vine, YouTube, and social media. The imagery proved irresistible to imitators, from college students to Nicolas Cage face-swaps, making "Wrecking Ball" one of the most parodied music videos of the 2010s.
## Origin
On August 25, 2013, "Wrecking Ball" dropped as the second single from Miley Cyrus's fourth studio album *Bangerz*[1]. The song was written by Mozella, Stephan Moccio, Sacha Skarbek, David Kim, Dr. Luke, and Cirkut[1]. Mozella had originally penned the lyrics after going through a breakup, and the song was initially intended for Beyoncé[2]. Cyrus, who was dealing with her own split from Liam Hemsworth at the time, channeled that pain into her vocal performance[2].
The music video premiered on September 9, 2013, on the Vevo YouTube channel[5]. Directed by fashion photographer Terry Richardson, it featured nude scenes of Cyrus demolishing a room with a sledgehammer and riding a wrecking ball[3]. Mashable compared the tearful close-ups to Sinéad O'Connor's iconic "Nothing Compares 2 U" video, noting it was "a stark contrast from Cyrus' performance at the MTV VMAs in which she twerked on Robin Thicke"[3].
The very next day, on September 10, Vine user Frank McDonald uploaded the first parody, re-enacting the nude scene using an outdoor tire swing[5]. The parody wave had begun.
- **Platform:** YouTube / Vevo (music video), Vine (first parody)
- **Creator:** Miley Cyrus (performer), Terry Richardson (video director), Frank McDonald (first parody, Vine)
- **Date:** 2013
## Overview
The "Wrecking Ball" meme centers on the music video for Miley Cyrus's single of the same name, in which Cyrus rides a demolition ball naked, licks a sledgehammer, and cries in close-up shots. The video's provocative imagery created a perfect storm for internet parodies: the visual setup was simple to recreate (find a spherical object, swing on it), the emotional contrast between the tearful ballad and the absurdity of the nude wrecking ball ride was hard to resist, and the whole thing arrived just weeks after Cyrus's infamous twerking performance at the VMAs[3].
The meme primarily takes the form of reenactment videos. People film themselves riding spherical objects, tire swings, gym equipment, or anything vaguely ball-shaped while the song plays. Photoshop edits placing Cyrus (or other characters) on different round objects are another common format[12].
## How It Spread
The video's first 24 hours were record-breaking. It pulled in over 19.3 million views on Vevo, smashing the previous record[6]. Cyrus herself encouraged fans to help beat the record, promising to release the *Bangerz* track list if they succeeded[3].
Critical reception was split. The New York Daily News called the video "overtly sexual," while Fox News compiled negative fan tweets[5]. Cyrus defended the video on Z100 radio on September 11, insisting the nudity represented emotional vulnerability and that the crying was genuine, not staged[5]. Her father Billy Ray tweeted a joke about trying to "type, tweet, twerk and ride a wrecking ball naked all at the same time while carrying a sledge hammer," and called the song "a smash"[3].
Parodies spread at breakneck speed. By September 12, YouTube had a gender-swapped version and a Nicolas Cage face-swap edit[5]. BBC Radio's Greg James posted his own take[4]. Funny or Die published a series of photoshopped images showing Cyrus riding other spherical objects[12]. The Pet Collective made an animal version, and a puppy parody became one of the most family-friendly entries in the genre[11].
Vine was ground zero for the reenactment trend. Mashable compiled the best Vine parodies, noting how users reinterpreted the stripped-down (literal and figurative) video through six-second comedy clips[8]. Adweek observed that no music artist had inspired "such a wealth of YouTube response videos in such a short burst of time"[10].
The most dramatic real-world consequence happened at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, Michigan. Students discovered that a 1973 bifilar pendulum sculpture by artist Dale Eldred on campus was the perfect stand-in for a wrecking ball[6]. Multiple students filmed themselves riding the 42-inch metal sphere, including at least one naked reenactment[9]. The university removed the sculpture on September 17, citing safety concerns after discovering a frayed cable and worn eyebolt[7]. Students protested by gathering at the empty installation site, singing "Wrecking Ball," and the hashtag #ReinstallTheBall took off on Twitter along with a novelty account @GVSUWreckingBal[5]. T-shirt sales using the hashtag raised money for Relay For Life[7]. By September 25, a student committee from the physics and engineering departments and Student Senate had been assembled to decide the sculpture's fate[7].
The parody wave was covered by Billboard, Chicago Now, AdWeek, College Humor, Heavy, and AOL, among others[5]. What's Trending released a compilation of the best parodies[5]. Billboard ran a listicle titled "10 Hilarious Clips Even Billy Ray Would Love," noting that even Google got in on the trend around the time of Léon Foucault's 194th birthday[4].
## How to Use
The "Wrecking Ball" meme typically follows one of these formats:
**Reenactment video:** Find any spherical or swingable object. Film yourself riding it, ideally with dramatic commitment. Play "Wrecking Ball" over the footage. The more absurd the object, the better. Tire swings, gym balls, playground equipment, and campus sculptures all work.
**Face swap / Photoshop edit:** Replace Cyrus's face with someone else's (Nicolas Cage is the classic choice) or place her on a different round object. Funny or Die popularized the "improved wrecking balls" format with photoshopped alternatives[12].
**Audio mashup:** Combine the "Wrecking Ball" audio with unrelated footage of people or animals swinging, falling, or riding things.
The key ingredient is the contrast between the song's raw emotion and the absurdity of the visual. The meme works best when the performer commits fully to the dramatic intensity while the situation is clearly ridiculous.
## Cultural Impact
"Wrecking Ball" was a turning point in Miley Cyrus's public image, completing her break from the Disney-era Hannah Montana persona. The video's mix of vulnerability and provocation generated think pieces across major media outlets[3].
The GVSU sculpture incident showed how internet memes could have tangible real-world effects. A 40-year-old piece of scientific art was removed from a university campus because students kept reenacting a music video on it, leading to an engineering committee, a protest, a charity T-shirt campaign, and national news coverage[6][7].
The parody explosion also demonstrated Vine's power as a meme incubator. The platform's six-second format was ideal for quick recreations, and "Wrecking Ball" was one of the defining meme moments of Vine's early era[8].
Billboard noted the connection between chart success and meme virality, with "Wrecking Ball" reaching number one on the Hot 100 alongside its parody avalanche[4].
## Fun Facts
- The song was originally written for Beyoncé by Mozella after a bad breakup. Cyrus had no hand in writing the lyrics but connected with them because of her own split from Liam Hemsworth[2].
- "Wrecking Ball" earned 11x Platinum certification in Norway, one of the highest certifications for the single in any country[2].
- YouTuber Patty Walters got a record deal after his pop cover of the song went viral[2].
- The GVSU pendulum sculpture had been on campus since 1974. It took a Miley Cyrus meme to get it taken down, but the removal revealed actual structural issues including a frayed cable[7].
- Billy Ray Cyrus joked about the video on Twitter, posting about trying to "twerk and ride a wrecking ball naked all at the same time while carrying a sledge hammer"[3].
## Frequently Asked Questions
### What is the Wrecking Ball meme?
The Wrecking Ball meme refers to the wave of parody videos, face swaps, and Photoshop edits inspired by Miley Cyrus's 2013 music video, in which she rides a demolition ball naked and licks a sledgehammer[5].
### Where did the Wrecking Ball meme come from?
The music video premiered on Vevo on September 9, 2013. The first parody appeared on Vine the very next day, posted by user Frank McDonald using an outdoor tire swing[5].
### What does the Wrecking Ball meme mean?
The meme plays on the contrast between the song's intense emotional vulnerability and the absurdity of recreating or editing the nude wrecking ball imagery. Most parodies are pure comedy rather than commentary[8].
### How do you use the Wrecking Ball meme?
Film yourself swinging on a round object with the song playing, Photoshop someone onto the wrecking ball, or edit the footage with a different face. The more committed or ridiculous the recreation, the better[12].
### Is Wrecking Ball still popular?
The active parody wave peaked in September-October 2013. The song and video are still widely recognized, and the imagery gets referenced whenever wrecking ball or demolition ball visuals appear in other contexts[4].
### Who directed the Wrecking Ball music video?
Fashion and portrait photographer Terry Richardson directed the video, which was compared to Sinéad O'Connor's "Nothing Compares 2 U" for its tearful close-up shots[3].
### Did Wrecking Ball break any records?
Yes. The video broke the Vevo record for most views in 24 hours with 19.3 million views, surpassing the previous record held by One Direction's "Best Song Ever"[6]. The song also set a Billboard Hot 100 record for the largest gap between number-one positions[2].
### What happened at Grand Valley State University?
Students at GVSU rode a 1973 bifilar pendulum sculpture to recreate the video, including at least one nude reenactment. The university removed the sculpture on September 17, 2013, citing safety concerns. Students protested with the hashtag #ReinstallTheBall, and a committee of physics and engineering students was formed to decide its future[7].
### Who wrote the song Wrecking Ball?
The song was written by Mozella, Stephan Moccio, Sacha Skarbek, David Kim, Dr. Luke, and Cirkut. Mozella originally wrote it for Beyoncé after going through a personal breakup[2].
### Why was the Wrecking Ball video controversial?
Critics called the video "overtly sexual" and saw it as another step in Cyrus's provocative rebrand away from her Hannah Montana image. Cyrus defended it as a display of emotional vulnerability, saying the crying was real and the nudity represented rawness, not sexuality[1].
### What was Billy Ray Cyrus's reaction?
He tweeted a joke about trying to "type, tweet, twerk and ride a wrecking ball naked all at the same time" and called the song "a smash" in a separate interview[3].
### What were the best Wrecking Ball parodies?
Notable parodies include the Nicolas Cage face swap, BBC's Greg James reenactment, the GVSU student videos, a puppy parody, a hedgehog version on CollegeHumor, and Funny or Die's "Improved Wrecking Balls" Photoshop series[4][11][12].
## References
1. [Miley Cyrus - Wrecking Ball | Beyond The Lyrics | Story of Song]()
2. [Miley Cyrus Wrecking Ball: A Comprehensive Breakdown of the Song | Neon Music]()
3. [Miley Cyrus Cries and Goes Nude in 'Wrecking Ball' Video | Mashable]()
4. [Wrecking Ball - Know Your Meme]()
5. [10 'Wrecking Ball' Vine Videos That Will Destroy You With Laughter | Mashable]()
6. [Wrecking Ball Hedgehog Parody]()
7. [Top 10 viral videos of the week: Gareth Bale to Wrecking Ball parody | Metro News]()
8. [Miley Cyrus 'Wrecking Ball' Parodies: 10 Hilarious Clips Even Billy Ray Would Love]()
9. [GVSU 'Wrecking Ball' Miley Cyrus Parodies Halted After Sculpture Removed (VIDEO) | HuffPost College]()
10. [GVSU students will help decide fate of sculpture used in nude parodies of Miley Cyrus 'Wrecking Ball' video - mlive.com]()
11. [This Spoof of Miley's Wrecking Ball Is Quite Vivid]()
12. ['Wrecking Ball' Puppy Parody Could Start Cuteness War | Mashable]()
13. [Funny Or Die | Improved Wrecking Balls for Miley Cyrus to Ride]()
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Source: https://meme.com/memes/wrecking-ball
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