Cher calls Adam Rippon ‘special’ and ‘brave’ in emotional essay

Pop star Cher has penned an emotional essay for Adam Rippon, describing him as “special” and “brave” after making TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2018.

The Winter Olympian has been making a storm since competing in the 2018 Winter Olympics. He struck up a friendship with fellow athlete Gus Kenworthy, wore a harness to the Academy Awards and openly spoke of his crush on singer Shawn Mendes shortly before meeting him.

So it’s no wonder the athlete landed in TIME’s 100 Most Influential People of 2018, and 71-year-old singer and actress Cher penned his entry on the list, praising Rippon for his bravery and fashion choices at this year’s Oscars.  

In the essay, Cher wrote: “All figure skaters are beautiful, but Adam Rippon is different.

“He isn’t just a beautiful skater. He has humility, grace and an incredible sense of humour. You could see in the leather-harness suit he wore to the Academy Awards that he isn’t afraid to take chances.”

She continued: “It wasn’t about the suit, really. It was about the fact that he dares to be different in a world where being different always comes at a cost. I thought it was fabulous, of course.”

Cher then praised Rippon for being a role model for LGBT youths.

She wrote: “Adam is a skater who happens to be gay, and that represents something wonderful to young people. When I was young, I had no role models – everyone looked like Sandra Dee and Doris Day. There was nobody who made me think, Oh, I could be like them. They represent me.“

“Adam shows people that if you put blood, sweat and tears into what you’re doing, you can achieve something that’s special. You can be special. And I think that’s very brave.”

Just last week it was announced that Rippon would be competing in a special athletes-edition of Dancing With The Stars.