When Melbourne snatched the Formula One race from Australia’s City Of Churches, Adelaide, it was a kick to the gut for the city. Especially given that Melburnians aren’t even particularly fond of the event.

But old emotions have been stirred up again after it was discovered singer Cher was selling the key to the city given to her by officials in Adelaide after her performance at the 1990 Grand Prix.

To add further insult to injury, Cher isn’t selling the key in some fancy auction house. No, she got her “personal consignor” to put it up on eBay and see what happens.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, the auction opened for bidding a few days ago and has already attracted over 150 bids. At the time of publication the highest bid was for $94,572.45.

But the flurry of bids on the key haven’t changed anything as far as the city’s officials are concerned. Current Mayor of Adelaide, Stephen Yarwood, said he was highly offended by the singers actions and “exceptionally disappointed.”

“I just think that it is more a reflection on her than the city of Adelaide. It must be very embarrassing for her if she is selling it because she needs the money,” Yarwood told the city’s Adelaide Advertiser newspaper.

The man who presented the key to Cher in 1990, former mayor Steve Condous, is also annoyed with the star. “I’m disappointed. I 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,” said Condous.

“If she didn’t want to keep it she should have returned it back to the city.”

But Cher insists she had no idea about the sale and she suspects a member of her team put the item up for auction without her permission. After being quizzed about the auction by a fan on Twitter, Cher replied:


Im upset 2& trying 2get2 bottom! I Think my office fkd up?RT @bettyann329 key 2 Adelaide on Ebay upsetting the peeps in Aussie esp the Mayor
Apr 23 via TweetDeck Favorite Retweet Reply

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Past recipients of the key to Adelaide include the Dalai Lama, comedian Barry Humphries and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong.

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