If she could turn back time — she might censor herself.
Cher let a curse word slip on live television Tuesday while appearing on the “Today” show with Hoda Kotb.
The pop icon, 78, was discussing “Cher: The Memoir: Part One” — which chronicles the hardships of her relationship with her late ex, Sonny Bono — and said she reached out to Lucille Ball for advice.
Kotb, 60, asked what the late “I Love Lucy” star told her to do, to which Cher replied, “I can’t say it on TV.”
However, the news anchor reassured her, “We’ll bleep it.”
The “Believe” singer then explained that she contacted Ball in the first place because she had gone through similar issues with her own ex and co-star, Desi Arnaz.
“So, she said, ‘F–k it, you’re the one with the talent,’” Cher disclosed with a laugh, prompting Kotb to gasp and burst into laughter over the expletive.
“Ok, we didn’t have the seven second [delay], but we will for the next feed,” the journalist added while giggling.
“Well, you said I could!” Cher responded, to which Kotb replied, “I should have bleeped it myself.”
On social media, a viewer blamed the “Today” host for the blunder, writing via X, “Cher just F-bombed live on the @TODAYshow 🤣🤣🤣 That was totally Hoda’s fault. She said they’d bleep it. 😂.”
However, Kotb then explained on “Today with Hoda and Jenna” that when she told Cher they would “bleep it,” she thought the “Strong Enough” singer would censor herself.
“I meant, like, bleep like right in the moment – I didn’t mean say it,” the broadcaster clarified.
Her co-host Jenna Bush Hager then chimed in, “Oh, you wanted her to bleep it. I didn’t understand that.”
Putting the funny on-air mixup aside, Cher was able to continue having a candid conversation about her past with Bono.
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She claimed her “I Got You Babe” duet partner allegedly took all their money when they divorced in 1975.
In an excerpt obtained by Page Six, Cher also wrote about how Bono “seriously thought” of killing her at the end of their turbulent marriage. She also became suicidal due to their marital issues.
“Cher: The Memoir: Part One” is out in bookstores and online Tuesday. Part Two is due out in 2025.
English (US) ·