Cher revealed in a new interview that “few men” have ever broken up with her — and Val Kilmer was one of them.
“Who would ever leave you?” Howard Stern asked on his SiriusXM show Wednesday, prompting the pop icon, 78, to admit, “Few men but a couple.”
“Look, I was madly in love with Val Kilmer and he left,” she added.
Stern, 70, inquired further, “Why would he leave if he’s having fabulous sex with one of the most beautiful women in the world?”
Cher said that sometimes people are “only meant to stay with someone so long” and pointed out that Kilmer, 64, was “really young” when they dated.
Cher and “Top Gun” star were a couple from 1982 to 1984 after meeting at a birthday party a friend threw for the singer.
They have a 13-year age difference, but the “Believe” singer — who is now dating 38-year-old Alexander “AE” Edwards — once explained to People why she went for younger men.
“The truth was if I hadn’t gone out with younger men, I would have never had a date,” she said in 2021.
“Younger men weren’t intimidated by older women. But older men in my age category, they weren’t having it.”
Cher said she and Kilmer bonded over their sense of humor and had a deep respect for one another.
The “Strong Enough” singer admitted to the mag, “I loved him—and I love him.”
“He’s like nobody I’ve ever known,” she added. “He is exasperating and hysterical. Thrilling and funny, and doesn’t do what anyone else does.”
Although Cher has fond memories of her time with Kilmer, he once said that his “most painful” breakup was actually with actress Daryl Hannah.
“Lord knows I’ve suffered heartache. But Daryl was by far the most painful of all,” he wrote in his memoir, “I’m Your Huckleberry,” according to People.
However, Kilmer also noted in the book how Cher has always been a good friend to him despite their split.
“Once Cher works her way inside your head and heart, she never leaves,” the “Batman Forever” star wrote. “For her true friends, her steadfast love and loyalty never die.”