Fact Check: Is Cher hiding $1.2 million in taxes tied to Kamala Harris campaign?
WASHINGTON, DC: Pop icon Cher has often been involved in several controversies, ranging from personal relationships and family matters to public appearances, fashion choices, and her onstage moments.
Recently, a rumor circulated online claiming that Cher is hiding $1.2 million in taxes tied to Kamala Harris' campaign. But is there any truth to this claim? Let us find out below.
Claim: Cher is hiding $1.2 million in taxes tied to Kamala Harris' campaign
A viral Facebook post by a page called America's Last Line of Defense claimed that Cher hid $1.2 million in taxes. As per the allegation, the money was tied to the 2024 presidential campaign of Kamala Harris, whom Cher endorsed.
The post read, "Cher is in trouble with the New York State Revenue Service for hiding $1.2 million in payments from the Kamala Harris campaign on her state tax return."
"'Paid endorsements are income', said NYRS Deputy Director Jon Raebro, 'Hiding it from your taxes is a crime in New York'," the post added.
It further mentioned, "The 83-year-old artist owes more than $120,000 and could face fines in the hundreds of thousands and up to a year in prison."
Fact Check: False, no official reports to prove it
The claims made in the online post are false, as there are no official reports accusing the singer of committing such a crime. Moreover, there have been no developments in any court regarding these allegations.
Searches on search engines, such as Google and Bing, showed no credible news outlet covering any such news. If the rumor was true, several media outlets would have covered it. There were also no sources provided by the Facebook user on the alleged post.
The viral claim seems more like a hoax, with no evidence supporting the allegations against the legendary pop singer.
In 2025, Cher won a royalties lawsuit against the estate of her ex-husband, Sonny Bono. The couple married in 1969 and formed the musical duo Sonny & Cher during the 1960s and 1970s. They also released several hit songs, including 'Baby Don't Go', 'I Got You Babe', 'But You're Mine', and 'What Now My Love'.
The couple filed for divorce in 1974 and signed an agreement in 1978 that entitled Cher to a 50-50 split of royalties. However, in 2016, Bono’s estate informed her that they would stop sending her royalty payments.
Bono died in 1998, and his widow, Mary, managed his trust. The estate stated in 2016 that the heirs had reclaimed Cher’s royalties under the US Copyright Act.
Following this, Cher’s lawyers said in court that the Copyright Act should not override the couple’s divorce agreement, and last November, Judge John A Kronstadt issued the final ruling ordering the estate to restore Cher’s 50 per cent royalty share.
