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HERE was only one thought in my mind when I saw Cher performing at the Billboard Music Awards in a diamond-studded bra and pink heart-shaped nipple pasties: are nude fishnets back in fashion?
Not everyone had the same reaction.
Piers Morgan asked his fellow Good Morning Britain hosts Susanna Reid and Kate Garraway: “At what point do Cher’s outfits become inappropriate?” (The singer turned 71 last Sunday.)
“Come on Cher, for goodness’ sake, love,” he continued. “She’s a grandmother, for goodness’ sake, just put it away, grow old gracefully.”
Morgan is no stranger to bodyand age-shaming women. But unleashing his bitterness on Cher is a new low.
A performance from Cher would not be true to herself without at least one see-through sparkly leotard. She’s been singing in outrageous clothing (or a lack of it) for decades. No one — least of all her adoring fans — expects her to stop doing this.
The only reason Morgan is complaining now is because Cher is no longer in her 30s, or 40s. She is — gasp — a 71-year-old woman, and in Morgan’s mind, this means she has to dress like one.
And he’s not a lone voice in such criticisms — with others on social media pouring scorn on Cher’s stage outfit (yes, remember, she was on stage — not doing the weekly supermarket shop).
“Oh dear #Cher how unclassy can you be? Feminazism isn’t classy no matter the age. Please don’t bring the respectable elder generation down,” tweeted Craig Alexander Goff (@Cmatthewgoff).
I can’t help but wonder exactly what it is about Cher’s outfit that offends.
The issue of critics like Morgan isn’t that Cher can’t pull off a leotard. Indeed, when Garraway and Reid pointed out how incredible she looks, Morgan