NEW YORK (AP) – Robin Thicke says the deposition for the “Blurred Lines” case took a backseat to his crumbling marriage, in his first interview since he and Pharrell lost the lawsuit in March.
In an interview with The New York Times that was posted Wednesday, Thicke says he was “careless” during the deposition, which occurred two weeks after he separated from actress Paula Patton. He and Pharrell were later ordered to pay nearly $7.4 million to three of Marvin Gaye’s children after a jury in Los Angeles determined the performers had copied elements of the R&B icon’s 1977 hit “Got to Give It Up” for “Blurred Lines.”
“I was going through personal hell at the time. And I was careless in the deposition,” Thicke 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.”
Thicke told the Times he was surprised they lost the case and “that’s why we’re appealing. I know the difference between inspiration and theft. I’m constantly inspired, but I would never steal. And neither would Pharrell.”
Thicke said he couldn’t elaborate when answering some of the reporter’s questions because of the appeal.