It’s awards season in Hollywood, and as the anticipation builds for the Oscars, veteran actress Liza Minnelli is revisiting a difficult memory from a previous ceremony. Minnelli alleges she was pressured by the Academy to use a wheelchair during her appearance alongside Lady Gaga, a moment widely praised at the time for Gaga’s supportive gesture.
Details of the incident are revealed in Minnelli’s forthcoming memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, scheduled for release on . According to an excerpt published by Variety, Minnelli expressed feeling “inexplicably ordered—not even asked—to sit in a wheelchair or not appear at all.” She was reportedly told the directive was for safety reasons, due to concerns she might slip from a director’s chair, a justification she vehemently disputes.
“I was told it was because of my age, and for safety reasons, because I might slip out of the director’s chair, which was bullshit,” Minnelli wrote. “’I will not be treated this way,’ I said. I was heartbroken. I was much lower down than I would have been in the director’s chair. Now I couldn’t easily read the teleprompter above me.”
Minnelli and Gaga presented the award for Best Picture at the Oscars, commemorating the anniversary of Minnelli’s Oscar-winning performance in Cabaret. During the presentation, Minnelli stumbled over her words, prompting Gaga to offer reassurance, whispering “I got you” into the microphone. The moment was widely interpreted as a display of kindness and support from Gaga towards the legendary performer.
However, Minnelli’s account paints a different picture. She describes feeling diminished and unable to clearly see the teleprompter from the wheelchair. “How would you feel if you were wheeled out, against your will, to perform in front of a live audience, and unable to see clearly?” she wrote in her memoir.
The actress also noted that Gaga had inquired about the situation beforehand. According to Minnelli, she simply responded by telling Gaga she was “a big fan,” adhering to a lesson instilled by her parents, Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, to maintain grace under pressure.
Reports indicate that a representative for the Academy has not yet responded to requests for comment regarding Minnelli’s allegations. The incident has resurfaced as the entertainment industry prepares for the upcoming awards show, prompting renewed discussion about the treatment of veteran performers and the complexities of live television productions.
The revelation comes as Minnelli reflects on her illustrious career and the challenges she has faced within the industry. Her memoir promises a candid look into her life and experiences, offering a new perspective on iconic moments and long-held perceptions.
