The 'Wrecking Ball' music video sparked controversy when Miley Cyrus appeared naked while provocatively licking the sledgehammer which served as one of the video's props. What really pushed the 20-year-old songstress to lick an inanimate thing?

In her recent appearance at the Ellen DeGeneres show, the former Disney star shares that she was not thinking too much when she held the hammer and started to seemingly make out with it. According to Cyrus, she was merely following the orders of her music video director, Terry Richardson.

"He said, 'Look like you're in love with it, you're really sad! I just started kissing it. I don't even know why. He was like, 'Keep doing it! Keep doing it! Looks like you really are  in love with this thing!"

The 'Hannah Montana' actress claims that she got carried away that she even forgot that the hammer was completely painted. The production unit just warned her to stop licking the hammer as it was fully coated.

She later explains what her deed with the hammer stands for:  "I don't care, I think this is actually going to be dope. So everything around just looks like I'm in love and holding on to whatever last little bit that there is, even if it's what's destroying the place. You're holding onto that sledgehammer even if it's what's destroying everything around you."

The 'We Can't Stop' hit maker was similarly portrayed crying in the music video which made people speculate that she was bitter over her breakup with Liam Hemsworth who immediately dated Latina actress Eiza Gonzales. However, Cyrus affirms that she wasn't crying because of the Australian actor but because of her dog's death.

In her previous interviews, the 'So Undercover' actress wasted no chance in saying that that her split with the 'Catching Fire' actor made her the "happiest" person.