Miley Cyrus Says Her Leg ‘Began to Disintegrate’ After Contracting Infection While Filming on the Hollywood Walk of Fame

Pop superstar Miley Cyrus has revealed a painful behind-the-scenes story about her upcoming visual project—and it’s not for the faint of heart. While filming scenes for her new film that accompanies her ninth studio album, Something Beautiful, the Grammy-winning artist says she ended up in the ICU with a “brutal infection” that nearly cost her part of her leg.

Cyrus appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! recently to talk about the project, where she shared how a bold filming decision landed her in a serious medical situation. To save on production costs, the singer decided to shoot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame late at night, when foot traffic was minimal and permits weren’t an issue. But unfortunately, that choice came with a nasty consequence.

“I filmed this video in October, and by November—on Thanksgiving—I was put in the ICU,” she told Kimmel. Though the hospital was overcrowded due to the holiday, doctors made room for her after realizing how severe her condition had become.

“My leg began to disintegrate… around the kneecap area,” she said. When her doctor asked if she had any idea what could’ve caused such a serious infection, it all clicked for Miley: the late-night shoot on the grimy Hollywood sidewalk was the likely culprit.

Cyrus recounted the surreal moment of being judged by a seasoned surgeon. “They open up cadavers. They see inside the guts of humans. And they’re looking at me, telling me I’m disgusting,” she joked. “And they do brain operations!”

Despite the terrifying ordeal, the Flowers singer isn’t letting it overshadow the excitement surrounding her upcoming film. The visual album—described as a “fantasy-fueled pop opera” and “a one-of-a-kind visual experience”—is set to hit theaters on June 12, just days after Something Beautiful drops on May 30.

She also revealed that while she had ambitious plans for the film and “a pretty good budget,” much of it ended up going toward wardrobe costs. “So then when it came time to go to the Walk of Fame, they’re like, ‘Are you going to rent this thing or what? ’Cause that’s really out of your price range.’ I’m like, ‘No, we’ll just go in the middle of the night.’”

Miley went on to describe the eerie experience of filming in that area after dark: “Have you been to the Walk of Fame in the middle of the night? I thought it was my last day.”

Though she admitted the story turned out a lot more “filthy” than she originally intended, host Jimmy Kimmel reassured her that it only added to the drama of her artistic journey. “No, what you’ve told everyone is that you sacrificed for this,” he said. “You nearly gave your life for this.”

With Something Beautiful shaping up to be both emotionally and physically intense, fans can expect not just new music, but a full-on cinematic experience that clearly demanded everything Cyrus had to give—literally down to her kneecap.