Robin Thicke Was 'Very Surprised' By the 'Blurred Lines' Case Verdict
"I’m constantly inspired, but I would never steal," he said.
— -- In March, a jury ruled that Robin Thicke and Pharrell Williams copied parts of Marvin Gaye's "Got to Give It Up" to make their hit "Blurred Lines."
Thicke couldn't believe it.
"I was surprised. Very surprised. Obviously, that’s why we’re appealing," he told The New York Times. "I know the difference between inspiration and theft. I’m constantly inspired, but I would never steal. And neither would Pharrell."
Ultimately, a jury awarded Gaye's family about $7.4 million in damages. At the time of his deposition, Thicke was going through a split from his ex-wife, Paula Patton, and he told the Times that as a result, he was "careless." (Thicke said in the deposition that he was high in the studio during the recording of "Blurred Lines.")
"My personal issues were all that mattered to me at the time. That’s why I use the word 'careless' to describe my attitude at the time," he said. "Obviously, I didn’t give my all to the trial. It simply wasn’t as important to me as what was going on in my personal life. I was lost at the time. I had lost my way.
Now, Thicke said that his approach to music hasn't changed, though his colleagues have told him that they find the verdict worrisome. He would not speculate on how his team will approach their appeal.
"I sure hope it comes out a different way for Pharrell and me, and also for the future of creativity," he said. "You know, there are friends of mine, other musicians, that have spoken out publicly about this, about the injustice of the decision. Adam Levine, John Legend, Stevie Wonder. Unfortunately, they’re not on the jury."