Every few years, the internet rediscovers a Cher quote and treats it like brand-new wisdom. The truth is, she has been giving self-worth advice long before it had a hashtag. In her new sit-down with Gayle King, Cher leans into the line that has followed her for decades: “A man is not a necessity, a man is a luxury.”
She explains it in the simplest way. Men can be fun, loving, “the coolest,” but your life cannot depend on them. They are like dessert. Great to enjoy. Not something you need to survive.
She connects this to her other famous line, “Mom, I am a rich man.” That spontaneous clapback to her mother in the 90s has now become a whole mindset. Cher is not just talking about money. She is talking about building a life where you are your own security, your own backup plan, and your own main character.
What makes this conversation so powerful is that she lives what she preaches. At 79, she is still working, touring, and starting a “sweet” new venture with her Cherlato gelato brand, complete with flavors that play on her songs and movies. She openly admits she does not like getting older, but she refuses to shrink herself, slow down, or act “grateful” just to be allowed in the room.
Cher revisits some of her most iconic quotes with GayleKing
Cher’s words about men being “like dessert” land even harder when you see how she turned that idea into something real and playful. After talking with Gayle King about independence, aging, and choosing yourself first, she lights up describing her “sweet” side project, Cherlato. The next clip takes you back to the original launch moment, where her philosophy becomes ice cream on wheels.
Churn Back Time: Cher reveals ice cream truck called ‘Cherlato’
In their earlier sit down inside Cher’s Malibu home, you get a slower, deeper look at the life she built on her own terms, from her wild decor to the stories about Sonny, heartbreak, and starting over. That earlier visit shows how much trust there is between them, and why Gayle is able to ask the questions that bring out Cher’s clearest thoughts on work, love, and independence.