Cher Throws Support Behind Man Fired for Asking Not to Be Called Slur

Cher continues to be the definition of an icon.

Marlon Anderson, a 48-year old black man, was fired from his job as a high school security guard last week after he told a student, who was also black, to stop calling him the n-word. But because he said the actual word, the school terminated him immediately.

Anderson was aware that the school had a policy against staff using the n-word, but assumed it was meant for white teachers and staff using it as a slur. But in his case, he was using the word to correct a student in a “teachable moment.”

“I made a conscious decision to address the word because it is an epidemic,” he told WISC. “Our kids use it every day.”

He went to the teachers’ union to try to get his job back, and his story made headlines.

That’s where Cher came in.

While anyone who has read the iconic singer’s tweets knows quoting them would be difficult, the gist of it was that she offered to pay for all of Anderson’s expenses should he decide to sue the school for wrongful termination.

While the attention of an icon like Cher and the threat of her endless money may have helped Anderson’s situation, it was still his courage to stand up for himself, and the support of students, that ultimately got results.

Students at the school, led a protest on Friday in lieu of going to class. CBS also reports that several students met with the district superintendent during that time to discuss Anderson’s job.

And it worked. The school gave Anderson his job back and, he says, he’s “so happy to be going back.”

“I didn’t expect support from all over the world. I didn’t expect these young people to step up and go on a rally and go down to the Doyle building and say they want me back. I didn’t think I was this special,” he said.

“Staff don’t need to be afraid to teach a student. If you have a teachable moment, you have to take that moment.”

And while he didn’t end up needing Cher’s money for legal fees, she still called him to offer her support and to "help him in whatever way is going to help him."

 "I don't think it's enough that he gets his job back. That's not enough -- they should apologize to him," she said. "I want something more for him because there's no price on dignity."

If you're going to have someone in your corner, that person being Cher certainly isn't a bad thing.