At the height of her career in 1973, Cher attended the Academy Awards ceremony alongside her then-husband Sonny Bono.
Photographers eagerly snapped away, thinking they’d captured the perfect moment. But little did they know, the real story was unfolding before their eyes..
Cher dazzled and captivated all the cameras at the 1973 Academy Awards, stealing the spotlight with her bold dress. Sporting something that wouldn’t be out of place on their own television show, Cher wore the first of many memorable Cher Oscar outfits.
The night Hollywood erupted
But before we dive into her unforgettable appearance, we need to start with another moment from that night — one that made Hollywood boil over with emotion.
To be honest, the 45th Academy Awards in 1973 is mostly remembered as one of the most controversial moments in Oscar history, due to the courageous act of a young woman named Sacheen Littlefeather.
She wasn’t a famous actress or a household name, but she forever changed the conversation in Hollywood when she walked onto the stage that night.
Clad in a traditional buckskin dress and moccasins, her long dark hair adorned with Native-style beadwork, Littlefeather stepped into the spotlight not to accept an award but to refuse one.
She was there on behalf of Marlon Brando, who had won the Best Actor award for his role in The Godfather – but chose to decline it as a protest against Hollywood’s treatment of Native Americans.
”I was distressed”
The audience in the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion was caught off guard, torn between applause and boos as Littlefeather explained Brando’s decision.
Some even booed her.
Littlefeather was supposed to read a 739-word statement, but the Oscars producer threatened to have her physically removed and arrested if she went over 60 seconds.
Under this pressure, she delivered a shortened version of the speech, and as she left the stage, some audience members mocked her with tomahawk chop gestures.
”I was distressed that people should have booed and whistled and stomped, even though perhaps it was directed at myself,” Brando later told Dick Cavett.
But the fury didn’t stop there.
Reportedly, Hollywood’s biggest stars were visibly divided. John Wayne is said to have been waiting backstage, restrained by six security guards to keep him from confronting Littlefeather. Though this account has been debated, the intense reactions from other presenters were undeniable.
Clint Eastwood’s accused of racism
Later that evening, just before announcing the Best Actress winner, Raquel Welch quipped, ”I hope the winner doesn’t have a cause.”
When Clint Eastwood took the stage to present the Best Picture award, he joked about doing it ”on behalf of all the cowboys shot in John Ford Westerns over the years.” The veteran actor has since faced accusations of racism for that comment.
Meanwhile, Michael Caine, who co-hosted the event, criticized Brando for ”letting some poor little Indian girl take the boos” instead of ”standing up and doing it himself.”
It’s easy to look back on that night as a sign of how far we still had to go.
For many, Littlefeather’s bravery wasn’t fully understood until decades later. On YouTube, comments beneath clips of her speech are filled with praise.
One user wrote, “People said that Will Smith slapping Chris Rock is the most disgusting moment in Oscar history, but they never saw a Native American woman defending her people’s rights getting booed by actors and actresses. That was the most disgusting moment in Oscar history.”
An ethnic fraud?
Yet, the story of Sacheen Littlefeather, born Maria Louise Cruz in 1946, doesn’t end with her iconic moment at the Oscars.
Shortly after her passing in 2022 from breast cancer, a new chapter unfolded that would challenge the narrative she had crafted over the years.
Her sisters stepped forward, asserting that Littlefeather had fabricated her Native American ancestry. Rosalind Cruz, her sister, revealed that Littlefeather believed it would be more “prestigious” to identify as Native American rather than embrace their Hispanic roots. According to the sisters, their father was of Spanish-Mexican descent, not Apache and Yaqui as Littlefeather had claimed.
Rosalind Cruz also dismissed her sister’s claim that she received the name Littlefeather from her dad after dancing before him while holding a single feather aloft.
“That she danced in front of my father and always wore a feather in her hair, in her head? And that’s when my father called her ‘Littlefeather?’ That’s another fantasy,” Cruz told San Fransisco Chronicle.
New research
As the 50th anniversary of her groundbreaking Oscar moment approached, her sisters reiterated their stance, insisting that Littlefeather was a fraud.
However, just as this narrative began to solidify, new research emerged on March 6, 2024, suggesting that Littlefeather may indeed have had Indigenous Mexican roots.
While we may not have the final word on this debate, this new perspective undeniably casts a different light on that historic Oscar moment and the ongoing fight for representation in Hollywood.
The iconic Cher outfit
Alright, folks, let’s move on to Cher!
Younger generations may not fully grasp the incredible phenomenon that Sonny & Cher were during their heyday. They were massive — absolutely massive!
And Cher, of course, has continued to dazzle and entertain countless new audiences over the years.
But in 1973, Cher was just 27 years old when she attended the Academy Awards alongside her then-husband, Sonny Bono. The couple was there to present the award for Best Original Song, because who better to hand out musical accolades than a duo who knows a thing or two about hitting all the right notes.
That night, amidst many stunning celebrities, Cher radiated with an unparalleled brilliance. Dressed in a daring outfit and rocking hoop earrings, Cher instantly became a fashion icon, proving that sometimes all you need is a bold look and a bit of attitude to make history. Her striking ensemble was designed by Bob Mackie, Hollywood’s premier designer at the time.
He had been dressing Cher since 1967, when she made a guest appearance on The Carol Burnett Show. “We hit it off right off the bat,” Mackie recalled to Variety, and the rest, as they say, is history.
Gold chiffon pajama
Cher always turned to Mackie for special occasions, and the 1973 Oscars were no exception. Back then, Cher was a size 6 with a beautifully trim midriff.
“She likes to emphasize that,” Mackie told Daily News the day after the event.
He crafted a stunning gold chiffon pajama set for her, featuring a bare midriff and flowing Oriental sleeves.
Cher’s long hair cascaded loosely, accentuating the intricate gold Byzantine embroidery, her exposed midriff, and the elegant sleeves that grazed the floor.
At that time, Cher and Sonny had reached the pinnacle of the entertainment industry. Their records sold in the millions, and they were one of the most sought-after acts for concerts and nightclub engagements.
Their comedy hour on CBS was immensely popular, it used to air every Wednesday at 8 PM — truly a “royal jewel” in the CBS crown.
But did all that fame and success really shine through when they strutted down the red carpet that spring evening in 1973? It’s tough to say! What we do know today definitely puts a new spin on that unforgettable night.
Cracks in the facade
Just days before the 1973 Oscars, several newspapers published articles highlighting the declining ratings for The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour.
Competing against popular shows like Sanford and Son on NBC and The Brady Bunch, their program struggled to achieve the heights it once enjoyed in previous seasons.
While these type of bad ratings would typically lead to immediate cancellations for many shows, CBS executives had a special affection for Sonny and Cher’s program.
They were allowed to continue, largely because the couple was seen as easy to work with. But was it really smooth sailing between Cher and Sonny?
The answer is no.
Walked off stage
The couple’s marriage added a layer of natural friction to their show, but by 1973, that tension was becoming increasingly problematic. Sonny, twelve years Cher’s senior, had faced many challenges before reaching stardom. While Cher could effortlessly shine on stage and in front of the camera, Sonny often played the role of the domineering boss behind the scenes.
One notable incident occurred when Cher famously walked off stage during a performance in Las Vegas, exclaiming, “Who needs you?”
Despite the turmoil, they managed to maintain their relationship. According to The Washington Post, Sonny even gifted Cher a new car to keep the peace, and life at their Beverly Hills mansion continued as usual.
However, that moment in Vegas hinted at a deeper issue. Cher had become the undeniable star of the duo, capable of launching a successful solo career if she chose to. In hindsight, it’s haunting to look at the pictures from that fateful Oscars night, knowing what lay beneath their glamorous facade.
In fact, Cher and Sonny had been grappling with marital problems since late 1972, but they put on a brave face for the cameras, maintaining appearances until 1974.
Cher later described her husband as a “watered-down Svengali,” who tightly controlled their careers and lives with an iron fist. While they were dazzling audiences and making headlines, their personal lives were anything but picture-perfect.
Looking at the iconic images of Cher and Sonny at the Oscars in 1973, it’s a stark reminder for us that sometimes, the most dazzling moments are merely a cover for the cracks beneath the surface.
A huge womanizer
After their much-publicized divorce, it was revealed that Sonny Bono had been notoriously unfaithful — but Cher? Well, she was blissfully unaware.
Just look at the picture below of Cher, shimmering in a dazzling outfit with a smile that could light up the Hollywood sign.
It’s hard to imagine that behind the scenes, Sonny was more interested in creating a harem than harmonizing in a heartfelt duet.
Cher once said, “Stardom made Sonny a huge womanizer. One woman, or even five, was not enough for him. I found all this out afterward. I asked him, ‘How did you manage the logistics?’”
”I was trusting and faithful with him. The truth is, I’m not so sure we should’ve ever been husband and wife.”
Today, Cher, 78, continues to enchant audiences with her talent and charisma.She remains a powerful force in the entertainment industry.
As for Sonny, he left this world in 1998 after a tragic skiing acciden
Looking at that iconic snapshot from 1973, it’s easy to be mesmerized by Cher and Sonny, radiating confidence and glamour as they stood on top of the world.
But the truth?
Their relationship was quietly unraveling, and we had no idea. It’s fascinating, in hindsight, to see how their dazzling smiles masked the turmoil beneath.
Cher’s brilliant smile reminds us that even in the brightest moments, life can be complex and unpredictable. It’s a beautiful testament to her strength and the resilience that has defined her journey
My Maid of Honor Declined to Wear the Dress I Selected for Her – Her Alternative Outfit at My Wedding Astonished Me
When Jessie’s maid of honor, Emily, showed up in a dress that Jessie didn’t pick, her picture-perfect wedding day took an unexpected turn. Emily’s shocking attire sparked chaos, setting the stage for some sweet payback.
Hey everyone, Jessie here! Two weeks ago, I married the love of my life, Kevin. It should’ve been the happiest day ever, right? Well, thanks to my so-called best friend, let’s just say it became a story for the ages — and not in a good way.
Emily, my supposed best friend, the woman I’d chosen as my maid of honor, managed to steal the spotlight in the most outrageous way possible…
Emily and I have been best friends since we were knee-high to a grasshopper. We practically grew up together.
Now, don’t get me wrong, Emily’s a great friend, supportive and always there for me. But there’s this one tiny, well, not-so-tiny detail about her — she’s a tad competitive.
It started small, you know, harmless races on the playground to see who could reach the swings first. In high school, it was all about grades—who could snag the highest GPA.
Then came college, and suddenly, it was about who could throw the most epic birthday bash. You name it, we “competed” at it. But hey, that was all in good fun, right? Or so I thought.
Despite her win-at-all-costs streak and arrogance, we always managed to stay close. I never really saw it as a competition; I just figured a little healthy rivalry pushed us both to be better.
We navigated life together, from scraped knees on the playground to the corporate jungle of our careers.
And when my boyfriend Kevin popped the question, there was no doubt in my mind who’d be my maid of honor—Emily, obviously.
Planning the wedding was a whirlwind of excitement. I wanted everything perfect, down to the last detail. Romantic elegance was the theme, with soft hues of lavender and blush creating a dreamy spring garden vibe.
The bridesmaids’ dresses were a beautiful shade of lavender, the perfect complement to the whole aesthetic. I mean, I was paying for everything, dresses included, so naturally, I wanted everyone to look stunning and harmonious.
The day of the final fitting arrived, and Emily came over, all smiles and sunshine.
But as soon as she saw the dress I’d picked for her, her smile completely vanished. She held the lavender fabric at arm’s length like it was some kind of contagious disease.
“Uh, Jess,” she mumbled, “I don’t think I can wear this.”
“What? Why not?” I furrowed my brow, completely confused. This was the dress we’d all picked out together, the one everyone agreed on. And it was gorgeous.
“This color just washes me out,” she whined. “I’ll look like a ghost in it.”
Honestly, that was a stretch. The dress would look amazing on her, like it was practically made for her curves. But Emily was never one to back down from an argument, especially when it came to “winning.”
“Come on, Em,” I tried to reassure her, “it’s the same dress everyone else is wearing. You would look beautiful, trust me.”
But she wasn’t having it. She huffed and puffed, making a scene about how unflattering the dress was and how she just couldn’t possibly walk down the aisle looking like a pale ghost.
My patience started to wear thin, but you know how it is with bridesmaids, especially your best friend. You just don’t want any drama, right? So, I caved.
I reluctantly agreed to let her pick out another dress, hoping she’d at least choose something that wouldn’t clash with the whole lavender theme.
Fast forward to the wedding day. Everything was picture-perfect — the flowers, the venue, even the weather cooperated and decided to bless us with a beautiful spring day.
Butterflies danced in my stomach as I stood at the altar, waiting for the music to cue the bridal party entrance. My bridesmaids walked down the aisle one by one, looking stunning in their lavender dresses, just as planned.
Then came Emily’s turn.
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