Cher Slams Peter Bogdanovich for being ‘F—ing arrogant’
Cher uses some choice words when describing a former director with whom Cher worked.
She opened up in a long interview with The Times of London to coincide with the release of her memoir. The interview was timed with the publication of the first half of her book.
“There were only two directors that I did not like: Peter Bogdanovich, and the guy who directed The Muppets.
. I got the Muppets guy fired. I told him, “Either you go or I go.” It’s a shame, because he was a great director, but had an obsession with me. He would say, “At least my spouse loves me!”
[Frank Oz, with whom she worked on 1990’s Mermaids]
The legendary multi-hyphenate, who described her experiences with the former film director, said Bogdanovich misogynistic. “He was a scumbag. He was arrogant and not nice to the women in the movie. “I really, really hated him.”
He was a pig. Oh yeah, he’s a pig.”
Cher responded, “Ask everyone: I am really easy to work. I don’t say things randomly, because I believe it is right to follow the director’s wishes until you feel the need to speak out. Meryl
advises that you should say yes to the director if they want you to do something that you dislike. You do it your own way, and no one notices. I have worked with Bob Altman and Mike Nichols. I also respect Norman Jewison. I know how to listen.”
The Oscar-nominated Director of The Last Picture Show also didn’t mince his words when he told Vulture in 2019 that Cher was the hardest actor to work with.
He said, “Well, she did not trust anyone, especially men” at the time. This was before his death in 2022. “She does not like men. Cher is her new name because she dropped the last name of her father. Sarkisian is the name. She’s not a good actress. She won Best Actress in Cannes because I shot it very well. She can’t hold a scene. She couldn’t have done what Tatum
achieved in Paper Moon. She would start out in the right direction but quickly go wrong. She’s great in close-ups, so I took a lot of them. Her eyes are filled with sadness. When you get to know her better, you realize that it is self-pity. But it still works well in films. “I shot more closeups of her in this picture than any other I’ve ever done.”
[Streep]
The second half is scheduled to be released in 2025.
The film, starring Sam Elliot and Laura Dern as well, is based upon the life of Roy L. Dennis. Dennis had a rare genetic condition called Lionitis or craniodiaphyseal disorder, which caused calcium to build up in the skull and disfigure facial features. His life was cut short by this disorder. The film won an Academy Award for Best Makeup.
