Music icon Cher has revealed that she turned down the opportunity to perform at the 2014 Winter Olympics in Russia due to the country’s anti-gay law.

Talking to Canadian magazine Maclean’s the ‘Believe’ songstress explained:

“I can't name names but my friend called who is a big oligarch over there, and asked me if I'd like to be an ambassador for the Olympics and open the show. I immediately said no.”

She continued:

“I want to know why all of this gay hate just exploded over there. He said the Russian people don't feel the way the government does.”

The 67-year-old music star also opened up about her relationship with her son, Chaz, who is a transgender man. Cher stated:

“When Chaz first told me she was going to do it - pronoun problem, when he first told me - and the process started, I was so frightened. One time I called Chaz and he had forgot to change his voicemail and it was his old voice. It shook me a bit. These are small changes that as a mother you never forget. It is the last taboo. It used to be against the law. Thank God we've come so far.”

Cher’s new album ‘Closer To The Truth’ will be released on September 24.

Watch a recent interview with Cher below: