Cher went to the Academy Awards ceremony with her then-husband Sonny Bono in 1973, when her career was at its peak.
Photographers were excited to take pictures because they believed they had caught the ideal time. They had no idea, however, that the true narrative was being told right in front of them.
Cher stole the show with her daring attire at the 1973 Academy Awards, captivating and dazzling all the cameras. The first of many iconic Cher Oscar costumes was worn by Cher, who wore something that would seem just appropriate on their own TV program.
The night that Hollywood exploded
But before we get onto her iconic appearance, we must first discuss another moment from that evening that left Hollywood inconsolable.
In all honesty, the bravery of a young woman called Sacheen Littlefeather is largely responsible for the 45th Academy Awards in 1973 being regarded as one of the most contentious events in Oscar history.
Even though she wasn’t a well-known actress or household figure, when she took the stage that evening, she permanently altered the discourse in Hollywood.
With her long dark hair ornamented with Native-style beads and dressed in a traditional buckskin dress and moccasins, Littlefeather entered the stage to decline an award rather than accept it.
She came there on behalf of Marlon Brando, who was the recipient of the Best Actor award for his performance in The Godfather, but declined it in protest of the way Native Americans are treated in Hollywood.
“I felt upset.”
Littlefeather’s explanation of Brando’s choice caught the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion audience off guard, causing them to alternate between cheers and jeers.
A few even jeered her.
Littlefeather was scheduled to give a 739-word message, but if she went over 60 seconds, the Oscars producer threatened to have her physically removed and arrested.
She gave a curtailed speech as a result of the pressure, and several audience members jeered her with tomahawk chop gestures as she walked off stage.
Brando subsequently told Dick Cavett, “Even though it might have been directed at me, I was upset that people should have booed, whistled, and stomped.”
The rage, however, didn’t end there.
Hollywood’s greatest stars were reportedly clearly divided. Six security guards reportedly held John Wayne backstage while he waited to avoid confronting Littlefeather. Even though there has been disagreement about this report, it is indisputable that other presenters had strong reactions.
Clint Eastwood is alleged to be racist.
Raquel Welch joked, “I hope the winner doesn’t have a cause,” later that night, right before the Best Actress winner was announced.
During his Best Picture presentation, Clint Eastwood made a joke about presenting the prize “on behalf of all the cowboys shot in John Ford Westerns over the years.” For that remark, the veteran actor has since been accused of racism.
The event’s co-host, Michael Caine, chastised Brando for “letting some poor little Indian girl take the boos” rather than “standing up and doing it himself.”
Looking back on that night, it’s simple to see how far we still have to go.
It took decades for people to completely comprehend Littlefeather’s bravery. Praise abounds in the comments section of her speech videos on YouTube.
“People said that Will Smith’s slap of Chris Rock is the most disgusting moment in Oscar history, but they never saw a Native American woman defending her people’s rights being jeered by actors and actresses,” written one user. The most repulsive incident in Oscar history occurred at that time.
An ethnic scam?
However, the tale of Sacheen Littlefeather, who was born Maria Louise Cruz in 1946, goes beyond her memorable Oscar moment.
Not long after she died of breast cancer in 2022, a new chapter in her life emerged that would put the story she had built over the years to the test.
Littlefeather’s sisters came forward and said that she had made up her Native American roots. According to Littlefeather’s sister, Rosalind Cruz, it would be more “prestigious” to be Native American than to embrace their Hispanic heritage. Their father was Spanish-Mexican, not Yaqui and Apache, as Littlefeather had claimed, the sisters said.
In addition, Rosalind Cruz denied her sister’s assertion that she got the nickname Littlefeather from her father after dancing in front of him while waving a single feather.
“That she often had a feather in her head or in her hair when dancing in front of my father? My father then referred to her as “Littlefeather?” That is a different kind of fantasy,” Cruz told the San Francisco Chronicle.
New studies
She was a phoney, according to her sisters, who reaffirmed their position as the 50th anniversary of her historic Oscar moment drew near.
But on March 6, 2024, more evidence surfaced, raising the possibility that Littlefeather did have Indigenous Mexican ancestry, just as this interpretation was starting to take shape.
Even while we might not have the last say in this argument, this fresh viewpoint unquestionably gives that momentous Oscar and the continuous struggle for representation in Hollywood a new meaning.
Cher’s famous ensemble
Okay, everybody, let’s go on to Cher!
It’s possible that younger generations don’t quite understand what an amazing phenomenon Sonny & Cher were in their prime. They were huge, really enormous!
Over the years, Cher has undoubtedly continued to astonish and amuse countless new audiences.
However, Cher and her then-husband Sonny Bono attended the Academy Awards in 1973 when Cher was barely 27 years old. The pair was there to deliver the Best Original Song award because, after all, who better to present musical honours than a couple who are skilled at hitting all the correct notes?
In the midst of so many gorgeous celebrities that evening, Cher shone with an unmatched radiance. Cher quickly became a fashion icon by dressing boldly and sporting hoop earrings, demonstrating that sometimes all it takes to make history is a daring appearance and a little attitude. Bob Mackie, the top designer in Hollywood at the time, created her eye-catching costume.
Since Cher’s 1967 appearance as a guest on The Carol Burnett Show, he had been outfitting her. Mackie told Variety that “we hit it off right off the bat,” and the rest is history.
Gold pyjamas made of chiffon
On important occasions, Cher always went to Mackie, and the 1973 Oscars were no different. Cher was a size 6 at the time, and her belly was gorgeously slim.
“She likes to stress that,” Mackie said to Daily News the day following the occasion.
He made her a gorgeous set of gold chiffon pyjamas with flowing Oriental sleeves and a naked midriff.
Cher’s long, loose-flowing hair accentuated the exquisite sleeves that touched the floor, her bare midriff, and the elaborate gold Byzantine embroidery.
Cher and Sonny were at the top of the entertainment business at that time. They were among the most sought-after performers for festivals and nightclub appearances, and their records sold in the millions.
Their comic hour on CBS was a “royal jewel” in the CBS crown, airing every Wednesday at 8 PM and enjoying enormous popularity.
However, did all of that success and stardom truly show when they walked the red carpet that spring evening in 1973? It is difficult to say! What we now know undoubtedly gives that night that will never be forgotten a new meaning.
The facade’s cracks
Articles on The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour’s dwindling ratings appeared in a number of newspapers just days before the 1973 Oscars.
Their program, which competed with popular shows like The Brady Bunch and Sanford and Son on NBC, failed to reach the heights it had in past seasons.
Normally, shows with such low ratings would be immediately cancelled, but CBS management had a particular fondness for Sonny and Cher’s show.
The pair was deemed simple to deal with, which is a major reason they were permitted to remain. Was the relationship between Cher and Sonny, however, truly easy?
The response is no.
walked off the stage.
The couple’s marriage naturally created conflict in their performance, but by 1973, it was starting to cause more and more issues. Sonny, who is twelve years older than Cher, had to overcome numerous obstacles in order to become famous. Behind the scenes, Sonny frequently took on the role of the controlling boss, although Cher could easily shine on stage and in front of the camera.
Cher famously said, “Who needs you?” as she exited the stage during a Las Vegas concert. This was one such instance.
They were able to stay together in spite of the chaos. To maintain harmony, Sonny even gave Cher a new car, according to The Washington Post, and everything at their Beverly Hills estate carried on as usual.
But that Vegas event was a sign of something more serious. Cher was now the undisputed star of the duo and could have started a lucrative solo career if she so desired. In retrospect, it’s unsettling to view the photos from that memorable Oscars night and realise what was hidden under their glitzy exterior.
Despite the fact that Cher and Sonny had been having marital issues since late 1972, they continued to make appearances until 1974 while putting on a brave front for the cameras.
Cher later called her husband a “watered-down Svengali” who used an iron fist to closely control their lives and professions. Their personal lives weren’t picture-perfect, even if they were captivating audiences and garnering media attention.
We are starkly reminded that sometimes the most spectacular moments are only a front for the underlying fissures when we look at the famous pictures of Cher and Sonny at the 1973 Oscars.
A massive womaniser
Sonny Bono’s renowned infidelity was exposed during their highly publicised divorce, but Cher? She was, in fact, blissfully ignorant.
Take a look at the photo of Cher below. She is wearing a stunning gown and has a smile that could light up the Hollywood sign.
Behind the scenes, Sonny was more concerned with building a harem than he was with harmonising in a passionate duet, which is difficult to believe.
Sonny became a great womaniser after becoming famous, according to Cher. He didn’t need one lady, or even five. All of this was discovered later. I enquired, “How did you handle the logistics?”
I was devoted and trusting in him. I don’t think we should have ever been husband and wife, to be honest.
Cher’s ability and magnetism still captivate audiences today at the age of 78. In the entertainment industry, she is still a formidable influence.
Sonny, on the other hand, passed away in 1998 following a terrible skiing accident.
As Cher and Sonny stood on top of the world in that famous 1973 photo, it’s easy to be enthralled by their confidence and glitz.
The truth, though?
We didn’t know that their relationship was subtly falling apart. It’s amazing to observe how their radiant smiles concealed the chaos underneath in retrospect.
Cher’s radiant grin serves as a reminder that even at the most joyful times, life can be complicated and uncertain. Her courage and tenacity, which have characterised her path, are beautifully demonstrated by this.
