However, Motown legend Smokey Robinson stated that it was a mistake to use the same melody, and that he thought "Blurred Lines" was "absolutely a rip off." In August 2016, Thicke, Williams, and T.I. appealed the judgment to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. Later that same month, more than 200 musicians – including among others Rivers Cuomo of Weezer, John Oates of Hall & Oates, R. Kelly, Hans Zimmer, Jennifer Hudson as well as members of Train, Earth, Wind & Fire, The Black Crowes, Fall Out Boy, The Go-Go's and Tears for Fears – filed an "amicus curiae" brief, authored by attorney Ed McPherson, in support of the appeal, stating that "the verdict in this case threatens to punish songwriters for creating new music that is inspired by prior works." In March 2018, the Ninth Circuit affirmed the district court's finding of infringement against Williams and Thicke. On May 14, 2013, Thicke performed the song for the first time live on NBC's "The Voice" alongside Pharrell and T.I. The website of "Rap-Up" magazine described Thicke as looking "dapper" in "black suit", and that the trio were joined on stage by "sexy ladies during the steamy set". Thicke also performed the song on "The Ellen DeGeneres Show" on May 16 with Pharrell and three models doing backup. Thicke performed the song live at the finale of "Germany's Next Topmodel, Cycle 8" on May 30, 2013, at SAP Arena in Mannheim. The performance featured the top 20 contestants of the cycle who danced to the song on chairs. The four finalists walked the runway during the performance, as well as performing a burlesque-like dance on different items of furniture. On June 7, 2013, Thicke performed the song alongside Pharrell on the British television chat show "The Graham Norton Show". He also performed the song (with recorded T.I. and Pharrell backing vocals) on Australian "The Voice" season 2 finale on June 17, 2013. Thicke performed the song on the 2013 BET Awards on June 30, 2013. Thicke also performed the track solo on British morning TV show "Lorraine" and BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge on July 8, 2013, as well as "This Morning" on July 10, 2013. Thicke also performed the song complete with dancers in studio on "The Howard Stern Show" on Sirius XM Radio July 29, 2013.