Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

Backup dancers sue Cher for alleged discrimination

Dallas Archer

Jeff Daly/Invision/AP

In this May 17, 2014 file photo, Cher performs during the D2K Tour 2014 at the BB&T Center in Sunrise, Fla. Three backup dancers have sued Cher claiming they were wrongfully fired from her current tour and the singer engaged in racial discrimination. The trio filed a wrongful termination lawsuit in Los Angeles Superior Court on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014.

LOS ANGELES — Three backup dancers sued Cher on Thursday claiming they were wrongfully fired from her current tour and the singer engaged in racial discrimination to prevent another black dancer from joining her onstage.

The dancers claim Cher remarked that her successful "Dressed to Kill" tour had "too much color" and instructed choreographer Kevin Wilson not to hire any more dark skinned dancers. Wilson, who is black and also danced onstage on the tour, was fired in July along with two other dancers who claim they were discriminated against.

Wilson and dancer Suzanne Easter, who are both black, are suing Cher along with former colleague Jacquelyn Dowsett Ballinger claiming they were wrongfully fired after complaining to managers that another dancer assaulted an unidentified woman in a hotel room while on tour. Wilson and Easter say race was a motivating factor in their dismissal, while Ballinger, 42, is alleging age discrimination.

"The accusations are ridiculous," Cher's publicist Liz Rosenberg said Thursday. "They couldn't be further from the truth."

The 68-year-old singer-actress had to postpone three weeks of shows due a viral infection earlier this month. Her "Dressed to Kill" tour has been ranked among the top-10 grossing tours of 2014 by the trade publication Pollstar.

The lawsuit states the dancers were told they were being fired to save costs on the tour. Their wrongful termination lawsuit seeks more than $10 million in damages, although any award would have to be determined by a jury.

The dancers' attorney, Perry C. Wander, said he believes the claims have merit. "The allegations are made by long term employees who have been on tour with Cher for over a decade," he said.

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