Cher is pissed off — as in, all-caps PISSED OFF.
The singer’s ire is directed at Wendy Williams, whose recent segment about Juaquin Phoenix and cleft lips became an instant source of criticism after it aired last week.
In the bit, Williams noted that she finds the Joker star “oddly attractive,” adding that when he shaves, he has a lip scar. Then she mimed a cleft lip while continuing to talk. “He’s got one of those, what do you call it? Cleft lip. Cleft palate.” Williams and her live audience found it all quite amusing.
You can see the segment below at the 9:40 mark:
Others, like Canadian pro football player Adam Bighill, whose son was born with a cleft palate, were notably less amused.
“This is @WendyWilliams making fun of the cleft community on her TV show,” he tweeted.
“Are you kidding me??? We all have a responsibility to #EndBullying.”
“With her platform, like myself, we have a much higher responsibility when it comes to our actions. This is just terrible.”
This is @WendyWilliams making fun of the cleft community on her TV show. ????
Are you kidding me??? We all have a responsibility to #EndBullying
With her platform, like myself, we have a much higher responsibility when it comes to our actions. This is just terrible. pic.twitter.com/JrlS0RJs5D
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 10, 2020
Bighill posted about the incident each day that went by without an apology from Williams.
Along the way he dealt with comments like this:
Which is a great reason why @WendyWilliams may not be the best celebrity to have a show… smh.. some people… ?????
I feel embersssed for you, for that comment… https://t.co/Fj6qseiQam
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 14, 2020
He also posted about his son, Beau, going into surgery:
Today is Beau’s big day. He is getting his lip repaired today in Winnipeg by the fantastic Dr. Ross. Thanks to everyone who has reached out, and in advance, thanks for any of your well wishes for Beau. He is so loved! #cleftstrong #1in700 #cleftcutie pic.twitter.com/n3MxaLvl5f
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 15, 2020
That same day — five days after the segment aired, Williams finally apologized, and Bighill appeared to accept the gesture:
Thank you @WendyWilliams for your apology, your donation, and for thinking of Beau today for his surgery. I forgive you, and I encourage others to as well. I wish you all the best. https://t.co/JmYnRb8C8t
— Adam Bighill (@Bighill44) January 16, 2020
Cher, however, did not.
“DOES AN APOLOGY MAKE UP FOR THIS,” she tweeted along with photos of Phoenix and Williams:
DOES AN APOLOGY MAKE UP FOR THIS pic.twitter.com/Su0OHB8hTG
— Cher (@cher) January 16, 2020
She also explained why the issue means so much to her, ending with all call for Williams to be fired.
@WendyWilliams I Was Going To Try & Hold My Temper??BUT IM SO F-NG ANGRY I CANT?.
In 1985 I Made a Film Called
“MASK”??THROUGH THAT FILM I BECAME INVOLVED WITH CHILDREN,& ADULTS WHO HAD CRANIOFACIAL
ANOMALIES. YOU HAVE NO IDEA WHAT THESE PPL GO THROUGH??20+ OPERATIONS— Cher (@cher) January 16, 2020
BEFORE THEIR TEENS??MUCH OF THE TIME THEY ARE IN PAIN,AFRAID,BUT HAVE HOPE ??THEY WILL LOOK NORMAL. THE?& FEAR THEIR PARENTS GO THROUGH IS UNBEARABLE. IF YOUR MOM SAW WHAT YOU DID SHE’D BE ASHAMED. MY MOM TAUGHT ME TO LOVE & HELP PPL IN PAIN.WHO ARE U??U SHOULD B FIRED
— Cher (@cher) January 16, 2020
Grandolphrz
Wendy said what she said. She was called out on it. She apologized. Adam Bighill accepted her apology. Now she knows better. I understand Cher’s anger. People need to stop making fun of other people. Stop making up names for people. Start being a decent human being. Treat others the way you want to be treated. Respect.
Sister Bertha Bedderthanyu
Wendy Williams rose to fame by trashing Whitney Houston daily and the mistake Whitney made was acknowledging Wendy made her made. She is nothing but a schoolyard bully in a grown woman’s body who will do anything for attention. You know she can’t be of much importance if Mario Lopez has never been on her show.
geminiguy90028
Yes where do you apologized and the apology was excepted. It takes a big man to accept an apology after being hurt emotionally. An apology may fix things aesthetically but does it ever help the emotional damage caused by the actions and statements heal? The hurt still remains.
MISTERJETT
i don’t think she does know better. not at all!!!
Herman75
So true. Starting today I will stop making fun of our president’s enormous lard ass.
ReformedBreeder
She also made her living putting gay people when it was unsafe to be gay. She a grown adult time to act like one.
graphicjack
Wendy is problematic on so many levels, but in a Scump-loving world, that’s what people want, sadly. Do I find her funny at times? Yes, even when she can be a total bitch, she can be funny. But quite often she crosses a line and I’d like to snatch that wig off her damn head. She has a lot of nerve telling others how to live their lives and judging when her own life has been a train wreck for decades. As she herself would say… have a seat!
peterblaise
… well, you could have said “… snatch that damn wig off her ass …”, so I guess we are all learning, somewhat, the RIDICULE is NOT HUMOR.
.
ShiningSex
She didn’t make fun of it. She said it was sexy. Her fan based are not Trumptards. She hates Trump. Get it right queen.
It was NOT bullying at all. Just being silly
MISTERJETT
i’m with Cher. Wendy is too ignorant to have a show.
ShiningSex
and Cher is too damn old to be having 20 “final” tours.
How many has that old bitch had? Her music is awful too. I don’t care for Wendy, but Cher is a terrible singer.
Hdtex
@ShiningSex and how many Grammys have YOU won?
How many Oscars?
Sit down and STFU incel cuck.
paulmodibe
CHER IS CORRECT, WENDY WILLIAMS NEEDS TO RESIGN, GET FIRED OR HER SPONSOR NEED TO FLEE HER SHOW. ASAP
peterblaise
#RidiculeIsNotHumor
.
marion
It is when it highlights hypocrisy (not evident in this case though).
ShiningSex
CHER is tired. Sit down old bag.
Also you spelled his name wrong!!!
BTW, Beyonce’s dress is ugly!!!
It’s not “bullying”. You all need some education on what real bullying is.
Hdtex
@ShiningSex
Were you born this stupid?
……or dropped on your head repeatedly?
JungleBoi
(We know it’s you, Wendy)
thomphelps
@ShiningSex seems to be an expert on bullying.
johnb123
You’re not even a little embarrassed to be talking about being too old to do whatever? And you base this on what? Having been 73? No, that’s not it. Must be ageism. That’s discrimination. It amazes me that people who know about discrimination firsthand can be this insensitive. If you make it to 73 you’ll get it. Maybe.
sillyme
ShiningSex, I’ve been through on the receiving end of bullying and trust me it’s not fun, I was picked on as a kid it wasn’t fun either. Nor do I ever tease someone as an adult on any platform for any reason unless I do know the person and I do it right to their face in good humor, BUT YOU need to learn how and stand up and get educated not be a tired old queen and bitching about you not getting treated fairly somewhere on anything unless you learn what it’s like.
justgeo
Wendy is just a no hack bovine pushing the B who is just another sack of whitewashed silicone.
Just buy to VW beetles and strap them to your chest cow!
Daltxman
Cher, I’ve been enjoying your music since the 60’s, but you missed an opportunity. Wendy said it was sexy, which is a positive comment. You could have taken that comment and built on it. Instead you chose the low road.
Want to see some real bullying? Watch The Sonny and Cher Show from the 70’s and see how Cher constantly belittled Sonny about his height, his heritage, etc. Glass houses….
Harley
Did you tweet that to Cher cause I doubt she reads QUEERTY.
boymikefl
Nobody’s perfect, except Evangelicals & Donald Trump. Wendy says things not thinking & I know right after said to herself, “Oh sh*t.” Since she’s newly single, she’s become somewhat self absorbed. That’s her.
Kanaka4127
Sarcasm isn’t your strong suit. Do better.
nitejonboy
Wendy Williams is the biggest piece of trash on television. Her dumb ass needs to be cancelled and now !! Anyone who supports her should be ashamed !!
xanadude
I am not a fan of her at all, but much ado about nothing. She was raving about him the whole time, talking about how attractive he is to her. Bad move to do the lip thing, yes, but it was all love she was giving.
winemaker
Sadly Cher, almost 74, born May 20, 1946 seems to think her opinion is the word of God and really matters to most of America. She along with Barb Streisand and a bunch of other hollywood yahoos said they’d leave America if Donald Trump was elected. Well they’re still here, wonder why?. They probably figured they couldn’t have made the SHIT loads of money like they do elsewhere. Really Cher’s gotten to be tiresome. And as for Wendy Williams, she apologized and the apology should be accepted and everybody moving on. that’s what adults do
tameron1
More proof that haters will be haters, so STFU, winemaker!
Esscourt
St. Cher. Now make the sign of the cross and shut up.
RandomGuy
Is Wendy Williams still constantly drunk/strung out on her show?
jsmu
This Williams K*NT is trash in a CAN. How many men did she have to f*ck ever to get this show, anyway?
tameron1
I agree with Cher and totally “over” Ms. Williams and her humor. I remember way back when she was quirky and funny, but now she is just arrogant and cavalier. Bullying is a cruel practice that ruins lives and can cause lasting damage. Get her off the TV. She has had her moment in the sun. Bye girl!
Esscourt
Wendy and those two Goodyear blimps on her chest—TRASH!
radiooutmike
Crazy thing is. Is that the station, I forget which one, that broadcasts her shows on my cable, started running commercials for a cleft lip charity last week.
Maybe some good will come of it?
Wheelerman
Cher is a legend.
Low rent Oprah will never be legendary. She needs to use her (minimal) powers for good to be respected.
whitakerk861
Wendy is a parasite who lives off of mocking others. Karma will have its day and she will disappear into oblivion. Cher will live on forever thanks to an incredible career and an incredible woman regardless if you enjoy her work or not.
Pii
What I don’t understand is why people watch these shows. The art of discourse took a nose dive when the Jerry Springer show went on the air and has steadily gone down hill. Programs like Judge Judy, Survivor, Gordon Ramsay, show the worst of north america. They are filled with abusive bullies, liars’ cheaters, trying to make it acceptable to portraying people who lie,deceive and stab others in the back as winners. People who should represent the best of us, judges bully and demean people who come to them for resolutions and are ridiculed by those same judges called stupid and defamed as liars without justification. Now we are surrounded by cruel greedy people selling their self respect for money 24/7 and live police shows turning the misery of others into entertainment for the masses. I look at the people on these shows and think would I want this person as a friend or as a representative of me. If the answer is no then I don’t invite them into my home via any social media whatsoever. Ignore them, avoid them, don’t facilitate them and eventually they will dry up and blow away.
piriblue
Wendy Williams is trash. One of the reasons she has bodyguards all over the place. All that hate she has inside. She thinks she has all these friends. I’m sure none of them care for her. She is really low life. I always wonder about shoe cam. Can she pull a shoes cam herself. Those blimpy looking legs are going to give out on her one day. She thinks she can say what she wants, In N.Y. they have two other talk shows on the same time slot. We all need to choose a classier show.
batesmotel
As long as people keep watching, Wendy will always have a show.
JungleBoi
As long as advertiser’s keep paying*
Jbaltes
I don’t really know Wendy Williams-I have never watched her nor seen her in anything significant. But the real point of the story is that it should never be OK to make fun of a disability or a disfigurement of any kind.
Sadly, in the times we are now living, this seems to be more and more “acceptable;“ but doing so is hurtful, demeaning, and says volumes about the person spewing the criticism. Only someone who is ignorant, woefully lacking in self-confidence, and totally devoid of empathy would stoop this low!
azjeff17
Williams is a ratchet beoch. When she has an audience member ask a question, and she, with her limited intellect, perceives them as gay, she “clocks” them by giving them a look up and down and murmuring, “mmm, uhhh”.
Jack
First let me say that I am appalled by what Wendy did. But, people respect and care about Wendy. She is not a mean spirited person. That’s why people like Robin Roberts, Lester Holt, Dr. Phil, Don Lemon, Whoopi Goldberg and many other respected people appear on her show all the time. She can be insensitive but she rarely does something truly mean. She reports on celebrities for 20 minutes a show. That’s her format. And she tells it like she see’s it. And then she interviews guests, interacts with her audience and plays silly games.
She was wrong. She made it right. But let’s get over this cancel culture over one mistake. The pile on is totally unnecessary. I hate Donald Trump, but Cher stands by Kathy Griffin and we could debate that Kathy’s infamous photo is 1000% times more heinous that Wendy’s lip grab. Everybody CALM DOWN.
Ronbo
Wendy is the new tRump on TV. Mean and ignorant. If we just “CALM DOWN” it will spread. Call her sponsors; money is the only thing that matters to these people.
Dasher718
I don’t understand why people actually like this low class loud mouth egotistical asswipe. Welcome to the dumbing down of America. Void of common decency and humanity. It’s cool now to put people down. Although, all this nonsense has been in works for awhile now. Bottom line, rachet b*tches who live in glass houses with their over inflated boobs and over inflated ego shouldn’t throw stones. I’m with Cher. Fire her ass.