Miley Cyrus and Liam Hemsworth are two of the thousands of people whose homes were destroyed in the wildfires that devastated California last month. Miley is promoting her new single “Nothing Breaks Like A Heart” and yesterday morning she opened up to Howard Stern about how the Woolsey fires affected her home in Malibu. 

Along with her entire house, a notebook full of handwritten songs was destroyed. Miley was out of town reportedly shooting an episode of Black Mirror (yes, THAT Black Mirror and I’m weirdly extremely excited for it) so Liam was left to save what means most to them: their animals. Here’s the exchange between Miley and Howard about Liam’s heroics: 

Miley: "So actually, Liam, I’ve never loved him more for this—"

Howard: "This is your boyfriend? Fiancé?"

Miley: "Yeah, kind of-ish... My partner, I call him my survival partner now. He thinks it’s not romantic, but I learned that it is- that is why you pair up with someone, for survival, and he was so incredible. He got all the animals out in his truck, he put two pigs in crates which I'm telling you is so hard."

She then goes on to describe how Liam wrangled their pigs, dogs, cats, and horses to save their lives. Liam Hemsworth has always been the Hotter Hemsworth to me. Since that sh-tty Miley and Liam Nicholas Sparks movie no one remembers, I’ve had a thing for him. And now I’ve never been more attracted to him. The fires sound horrific and I want to make sure everyone knows I know it was awful before I go on about how sexy it is to imagine Liam Hemsworth dodging flames to save poor, defenceless creatures. In my imagination, he is shirtless while ushering baby pigs to safety. Miley also thought it was sexy. 

"He got a lot of action for saving the animals. Yeah, he got a lot of action. We had to make sure he knew I was very, very grateful."

I want to focus more on Miley and Liam’s sex life because to me that’s the most interesting thing about them (I know someone who stayed in a hotel room beside them once and they’ve got STORIES) but the quote being picked up on the most is that Miley now refers to Liam as her “survival partner” instead of “fiancé.” I like the former a lot more than the latter and I think it’s actually very romantic.

We do choose to pair up with another human being out of survival instincts and in a lot of ways, having a partner does help you survive. Financially, especially. We don’t talk about couple privilege enough. Being in a relationship makes a lot of things easier. Plus, Miley and Liam broke off their engagement and got back together. She was wearing her ring for a bit and then she wasn’t. We don’t know for sure that they are still technically engaged. The word “boyfriend” probably feels wrong to Miley because of how long she and Liam have been together and how much they’ve been through. I can’t bring myself to call my dude of seven years my “boyfriend” either. It’s too trivial. I go with “partner” or “life partner” if I’m feeling extra. “Survival partner” sounds about right too. I might have to borrow that one.

Miley Cyrus can be a frustrating figure but I’ve said it before, she’s at her best when she’s being candid and authentically Miley. She’s chill and relatable in this interview. She’s not precious about talking about her relationship or her sex life and it doesn’t come off as gross or opportunistic the way so many conversations with Howard Stern can feel. Miley is going to be on SNL this weekend and I have a feeling she’s going to keep reminding us how talented and likeable she can be. It’s almost annoying. 

 

Listen to the full interview here