If she could turn back time, Cher might have decided not to allow the sale of a “Key to the City,” presented to her in November 1990 by the lord mayor of Adelaide, Australia, a city of 1.2 million. As it is, the appearance of the key on the website eBay provoked criticism Down Under. Former mayor Steve Condous, who presented the key to Cher in recognition of her performance at the 1990 Formula One Grand Prix in Adelaide, said, that he “would have thought that getting the key to a city like Adelaide would have had some value to her, but obviously it doesn’t because she wouldn’t have got rid of it.” He concluded that if Cher “didn’t want to keep it she should have returned it back to the city.”

 

The current lord mayor, Stephen Yarwood, added, “I just think that it is more a reflection on her than on the city of Adelaide. It must be very embarrassing for her if she is selling it because she needs the money.”

 

Bidding on the brass key, which comes with an engraved plaque and a certificate of authenticity, has gone from a starting bid of $120 to more than $81,000, with bidding set to close on April 26. It is not known what percentage of the price will go to Cher, and what portion to the consigner actually selling the key. Used shoes and clothing also belonging to the star are also being auctioned, along with a “personally owned photograph” of Cher with Queen Elizabeth II. Cher, 65, has earned numerous awards in a career in which she has sold more than 100 million records.

 

In the 21 years since Cher received the key, Adelaide has presented 33 other keys to the city.

-Matt Bewig

 

Cher Puts Key to the City of Adelaide on eBay (by David Jean, Adelaide Advertiser)

Anger as “Cher” Tries to Sell Adelaide Key online (Agence France-Presse)