Tuesday 10-01-11 Part 2 Chaz

Cher Says ‘DWTS’ Judges Were ‘Rude’ to Chaz

Tuesday, November 01, 2011 -- 8:47 AM

Transgender activist Chaz Bono, son of the multi-talented singer and actress, Cher, recently competed on the 13th season of ABC’s “Dancing with the Stars,” where he received tough criticism from the judges. His 65-year-old mother took to Twitter to speak her mind about the alleged bullying and what she called “cheap shots at Chaz,” based on attacks on his weight.

Chaz Bono stopped by the “Anderson” studio to talk about what he’s learned about himself and others from competing on “Dancing with the Stars” and received a surprise phone call from his mother, Cher, who tells Anderson what she really thinks about the judges’ criticism of her son.

"I just thought they were rude and it was gratuitous rudeness,” says Cher. “I just, I was just pissed off. I was really upset. Not that Chaz was voted off, but that they were so disrespectful."


Anderson asks Cher about Chaz’s appearance on “Dancing with the Stars,” “Are you proud of him?”

“Absolutely. Oh, absolutely, says Cher… also, I think it does… there are some people that are never going to be able to move out of their comfort zone, but I think that when people can see Chaz and see what a wonderful person he is, and kind and funny and all of that, then maybe they could just relax off of what their preconceptions are.”


Once known as Chasity, Chaz Bono underwent a gender transformation and documented his experience in the powerful documentary, "Becoming Chaz," and a tell-all book, "Transition: The Story of How I Became a Man."

The conversation continues with Anderson asking Cher about her feelings and level of comfort with regard to familiarizing herself with Chaz’s transition.

“Was it uncomfortable or difficult for you at first to kind of learn about Chaz?" asks Anderson.

“As a mom, you have a child and then all of a sudden, you have a different child, but you have the same child,” says Cher. “So it's very hard to kind of twist your mind around to the adjustment. But then when you look at it, and you're around your child, you just think, 'Oh, no difference.' Same child, different wrapping.”


Bonus Videos: Chaz Answers Audience Questions