‘Am so sorry’: Cher apologises for selfie with Malcolm Turnbull

It’s not everyday you get dissed by one of the biggest music icons in the world, but today is Malcolm Turnbull’s (un)lucky day. 

International superstar and gay icon Cher has issued an official apology for appearing in a photo with the Australian prime minister at Mardi Gras at the weekend, after fans accused her of supporting a “liar”.

Turnbull shared the photograph of the pair on his Twitter page on Saturday night, showing the unlikely duo smiling for the camera alongside his wife Lucy and New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

“Welcome to Sydney, Cher! Lucy and I and all your fans thrilled to be with you at the 40th Mardi Gras & first since Australia achieved marriage equality,” he captioned the image. 

Welcome to Sydney, Cher! @GladysB Lucy and I and all your fans thrilled to be with you at the 40th Mardi Gras & first since Australia achieved marriage equality. pic.twitter.com/EIYDaq2OTG

— Malcolm Turnbull (@TurnbullMalcolm) March 3, 2018

While the picture was soon plastered all over news sites across the country, some fans weren’t too thrilled with the selfie, claiming Turnbull was responsible for “LGBTIQ people [who] were taunted and abused for months last year” during the same-sex marriage campaign. 

On user person wrote under the photo: Hey @cher ..I love you but, did @TurnbullMalcolm tell you he has a whole review being held to enshrine discrimination again the LGBTIQ community???”

Another added: “He threw every single one of us under a bus when he allowed a very damaging marriage equality survey to happen.” While a third wrote: “He ensured LGBTIQ people were taunted and abused for months last year.”

At first Cher seemed confused by the accusations, responding: “I’m not sure what you mean. The Man I Talked To Seemed PROUD OF EVERYONE AT THE PARADE. Am I Missing. Something?”

I’m not sure what you mean.
The Man I Talked To Seemed PROUD OF EVERYONE AT THE PARADE. Am I Missing. Something⁉️
The Man I TALKED Could Be Reasoned With,The Man I Talked TO Believes In Equal Rights for ALL OF HIS PPL.THE MAN I TAKED TO WILL LISTEN &
HEAR”& 🐝COMPASSIONATE

— Cher (@cher) March 3, 2018

She then asked to be “schooled” on the matter before issuing an apology in another tweet and putting an end to any chance of a friendship between herself and Turnbull.  

“Am so sorry. Guess that’s why I have FEW Friends Who Are Politicians.He Seemed Very Open & excited about MARDI GRAS,AND LGBT COMMUNITY,” she wrote to fans. 

Am so sorry. Guess that’s why I have FEW Friends Who Are Politicians.He Seemed Very Open & excited about MARDI
GRAS,AND LGBT COMMUNITY.

— Cher (@cher) March 4, 2018

The 71-year-old was in the country to perform at Mardi Gras in Sydney, where she brought the parade to a standstill with her gobsmacking entrance. The singer and arrived to the tune of her hit song ‘Turn Back Time’ and was accompanied by dancers holding large purple letters that spelled out her name.

Around 300,000 people attended the Mardi Gras parade this year, many celebrating even more than usual following Australia’s legal acceptance of same-sex marriage at the end of last year.  

What do you think? Do you think Cher had to apologise? Are you a fan of Cher?

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