Cher and her then-husband Sonny Bono attended the Academy Awards ceremony in 1973, when her career was at its peak.
Photographers hurriedly took pictures, believing they had caught the ideal moment. However, they were unaware that the true narrative was being told there in front of them.
Cher stole the show at the 1973 Academy Awards with her daring attire, captivating and dazzling all the cameras. Cher wore the first of many iconic Cher Oscar costumes, something that wouldn’t seem out of place on their own TV program.
The evening that Hollywood exploded
Prior to delving into her remarkable performance, however, we must begin with another moment from that evening that caused Hollywood to erupt in emotion.
To be honest, because of the bravery of a young woman named Sacheen Littlefeather, the 45th Academy Awards in 1973 are largely recognised as one of the most contentious events in Oscar history.
She wasn’t a household name or a well-known actress, but when she took the stage that evening, she permanently altered the discourse in Hollywood.
Littlefeather entered the spotlight to decline an award rather than accept it. She was dressed in a traditional buckskin dress and moccasins, and her long, dark hair was beaded in the Native way.
In protest of Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans, Marlon Brando, who had won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in The Godfather, declined the honour. She was there on his behalf.
“I was upset.”
As Littlefeather recounted Brando’s choice, the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion audience was taken aback and split between cheers and jeers.
She was even jeered by some.
The Oscars producer threatened to have Littlefeather physically removed and arrested if she went over the allotted 60 seconds of her 739-word statement.
She gave a condensed version of the speech under pressure, and some audience members made fun of her with tomahawk chop gestures as she walked off stage.
Even if it might have been aimed at me, Brando later told Dick Cavett, “I was upset that people should have booed, whistled, and stomped.”
However, the rage didn’t end there.
The biggest talents in Hollywood were reportedly clearly divided. According to reports, John Wayne was waiting backstage while being held back by six security personnel to prevent him from approaching Littlefeather. The strong emotions from other presenters were evident, despite the fact that this account has been contested.
Clint Eastwood has been charged with racism.
“I hope the winner doesn’t have a cause,” joked Raquel Welch later that night, right before the Best Actress winner was announced.
Clint Eastwood made a joke about accepting the Best Picture prize “on behalf of all the cowboys shot in John Ford Westerns over the years” as he took the stage. Since then, the seasoned actor has been accused of racism for that remark.
In the meantime, Brando was chastised by co-host Michael Caine for “letting some poor little Indian girl take the boos” rather than “standing up and doing it himself.”
It’s simple to see that night as a reminder of how far we still have to go.
Many people didn’t really comprehend Littlefeather’s bravery until decades later. Videos of her speech have received a lot of applause in the comments section on YouTube.
People remarked that Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock was the most repulsive moment in Oscar history, but they never seen a Native American woman standing up for her people’s rights being jeered by stars and actresses, one person commented. The most repulsive moment in Oscar history was that.
A fraud involving ethnicity?
However, Sacheen Littlefeather’s journey doesn’t stop with her memorable Oscar moment. She was born Maria Louise Cruz in 1946.
A fresh chapter that would contradict the story she had built over the years began shortly after her death from breast cancer in 2022.
Her sisters came forward and said Littlefeather had made up her Native American heritage. Her sister, Rosalind Cruz, disclosed that Littlefeather thought it would be more “prestigious” to be Native American instead of accepting their Hispanic heritage. The sisters asserted that their father was Spanish-Mexican, not Yaqui and Apache, as Littlefeather had claimed.
Rosalind Cruz also rejected her sister’s assertion that her father gave her the nickname Littlefeather when she danced in front of him while waving a single feather.
That she always had a feather in her hair or on her head while dancing in front of my father? At that point, my father referred to her as “Littlefeather?” Cruz told the San Francisco Chronicle, “That’s just another fantasy.”
Recent studies
Her sisters reaffirmed their position that Littlefeather was a hoax as the 50th anniversary of her historic Oscar moment drew near.
On March 6, 2024, new research surfaced, indicating that Littlefeather might have had Indigenous Mexican ancestry, just as this story was starting to take shape.
This fresh viewpoint unquestionably throws a different light on that historic Oscar moment and the ongoing struggle for representation in Hollywood, even though we may not have the last say in this argument.
The classic Cher ensemble
Now, everyone, let’s get on to Cher!
The amazing phenomenon that Sonny & Cher were in their prime might not be completely understood by younger generations. They were enormous—incredibly enormous!
Naturally, Cher has persisted in captivating and amusing many new audiences throughout the years.
However, Cher was just 27 years old in 1973 when she and her then-husband, Sonny Bono, went to the Academy Awards. Who better to present musical honours than a couple who are skilled at hitting all the correct notes? That’s why the couple was there to present the Best Original Song award.
Cher shone that night with an unmatched radiance amidst a host of gorgeous personalities. Cher quickly rose to fame as a fashion icon while sporting a striking ensemble and hoop earrings, demonstrating that sometimes all it takes to make history is a little attitude and a daring appearance. Hollywood’s top designer at the time, Bob Mackie, created her eye-catching costume.
When Cher appeared as a guest on The Carol Burnett Show in 1967, he began dressing her. As they say, the rest is history. Mackie told Variety, “We hit it off right off the bat.”
Pyjamas made of gold chiffon
Mackie was Cher’s go-to person for important events, and the 1973 Oscars were no exception. Cher had a gorgeously slim midriff and was a size 6.
The day following the event, Mackie told Daily News, “She likes to emphasise that.”
For her, he designed an exquisite gold chiffon pyjama suit with flowing Oriental sleeves and a naked midriff.
Cher’s long hair fell loosely, highlighting the exquisite sleeves that touched the floor, her bare midriff, and the elaborate gold Byzantine embroidery.
Cher and Sonny had attained the highest level of the entertainment business at that point. They were one of the most sought-after acts for concerts and nightclub engagements, and their records sold in the millions.
A true “royal jewel” in the CBS crown, their comedy hour was so successful that it used to air every Wednesday at 8 PM.
But when they walked the red carpet that spring evening in 1973, did all that success and stardom truly show? It’s difficult to say! That memorable night is undoubtedly given a new perspective by what we now know.
Facial fissures
A number of newspapers carried stories about The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour’s dwindling viewership just days before the 1973 Oscars.
Their program struggled to reach the heights it formerly reached in prior seasons, competing with famous shows like The Brady Bunch and NBC’s Sanford and Son.
Although many shows would normally be immediately cancelled due to such low ratings, CBS officials had a particular fondness for Sonny and Cher’s show.
Because the pair was viewed as easy to work with, they were permitted to continue. But was Cher and Sonny’s relationship truly easy?
No, is the response.
left the stage.
Their program had a layer of inherent conflict due to the couple’s marriage, but by 1973, that conflict was getting worse. Before becoming famous, Sonny, who was twelve years older than Cher, had to overcome numerous obstacles. Sonny frequently acted as the controlling dictator behind the scenes, but Cher could shine on stage and in front of the camera with ease.
One noteworthy instance was when Cher reportedly said, “Who needs you?” as she left the stage following a Las Vegas concert.
They were able to keep their connection intact in spite of the chaos. Life at their Beverly Hills residence went on as usual, and Sonny even gave Cher a new automobile to keep the peace, according to The Washington Post.
But that Vegas moment suggested a more serious problem. Cher had emerged as the duo’s undisputed star and might have started a lucrative solo career if she so desired. Looking at the photos from that tragic Oscars night in retrospect and realising what was hidden under their glitzy exterior is unsettling.
Cher and Sonny put on a brave front for the cameras, continuing to make appearances until 1974, despite the fact that they had been dealing with marital issues since late 1972.
Cher subsequently referred to her husband as a “watered-down Svengali” who exercised strict control over their lives and careers. Even while they were captivating crowds and garnering media attention, their private lives were far from flawless.
Cher and Sonny’s famous photos from the 1973 Oscars serve as a sobering reminder that sometimes the most spectacular events are really a front for the underlying problems.
An extreme womaniser
Sonny Bono was found to have been infamously unfaithful during their highly publicised divorce, but Cher? She was blissfully ignorant, that is.
Simply glance at the image of Cher below, who is glistening in a stunning ensemble and has a smile that could light up the Hollywood sign.
It’s difficult to believe that Sonny was more interested in building a harem behind the scenes than he was in a passionate duet.
“Stardom made Sonny a huge womaniser,” Cher famously remarked. He couldn’t have just one lady, or even five. I discovered all of this later. “How did you manage the logistics?” I questioned him.
I was committed to him and trusted him. In all honesty, I don’t think we should have ever been married.
Cher, who is 78 years old, nevertheless captivates audiences with her charm and skill. She is still a significant player in the entertainment sector.
After a terrible skiing accident in 1998, Sonny passed away.
It’s easy to be enthralled by Cher and Sonny when you look at that famous 1973 photo of them standing on top of the world, exuding confidence and glitz.
However, what is the reality?
We were unaware that their relationship was subtly failing. In retrospect, it’s amazing to see how their radiant smiles concealed the chaos behind.
Cher’s radiant grin serves as a reminder that life can be complicated and uncertain, even during the most joyful times. It’s a stunning illustration of her fortitude and tenacity, which have characterised her path.