Cher Opens Up About Drama on Set of 2010’s ‘Burlesque’: It ‘Could Have Been a Really Good Fun Movie’

Cher has opened up about how on-set problems caused huge issues with the making of her 2010 film Burlesque.

The singer, 79, spoke out on the January 5 episode of Armchair Expert, hosted by Dax Shepard. Cher was joined by Shepard’s wife, and her Burlesque costar, Kristen Bell.

In the musical. Cher played club owner Tess Scali. Bell played Nikki, one of the club’s main performers, and the film also famously starred Christina Aguilera as Ali who aspired to perform at the club.

“It could have been a really good fun movie except for you-know-who,” teased Cher, who didn’t name names. “Except for both of them.”

Bell, 45, and Cher then both clarified they didn’t mean any cast members had caused problems.

“It was a hard shoot,” Bell added. “It was hard.”

Host Shepard, 51, then chimed in: “What I think I can say, not being involved with it, was there was a romantic relationship happening for people that were very high above. And that was playing out on set quite frequently and dramatically and uniquely to anyone that’s been in show business.”

Cher also claimed that a person higher up on the film wanted to nix her song “You Haven’t Seen the Last of Me” from the film.

“He said, ‘I’m cutting that song out cuz I don’t want Cher to ruin my movie,’” Cher recalled.

For her part, Bell said she remembered “a lot of drama” on set.

“The way I get through dramatic or chaotic situations is to find someone to hold hands with in the corner and just laugh at everything,” she said.

Burlesque made just over $90 million at the box office and received mixed reviews.

In November 2010 The Hollywood Reporter reported that director Steven Antin and Screen Gems president Clint Culpepper, a longtime couple, had collaborated on the film. A source told the publication they had “jaw-dropping” clashes on set.

Director Antin told The Advocate in November 2010 things had got heated on set. He went on to describe the film as “a total f**king nightmare” and “a dream come true” at the same time. He called his relationship with Culpepper “complicated.”

Antin and Culpepper reportedly split around when movie came out, per the New York Post.