Liza Minnelli Opens Up About Traumatic Marriage to David Gest
Legendary entertainer Liza Minnelli has revealed shocking details about her marriage to the late producer David Gest, describing it as a traumatising and insane period during which she felt like a prisoner. The 79-year-old daughter of Judy Garland married Gest in 2002, but their union quickly deteriorated, leading to separation after just one year and a bitter divorce in 2007.
Controlling Relationship and Financial Exploitation
In her upcoming memoir, Minnelli claims Gest controlled every aspect of her life and financially robbed her. She stated that during their 16 months together, which felt like 16 years, she was more his prisoner than his wife. Minnelli expressed feeling disgusted, betrayed, humiliated, ripped off, and wounded by the experience.
One particularly distressing incident involved Gest becoming furious when Minnelli had lunch with friends without informing him of her whereabouts, breaking what he considered one of his most important rules. I was legally his wife, in truth, I was his prisoner, she wrote in an excerpt seen by The Times.
Financial Manipulation and Lavish Parties
Minnelli alleges that Gest organised a star-studded birthday party for her but charged the enormous bill to her own credit card. To compound the betrayal, he reportedly returned most of the gifts she received and pocketed the money for himself. At the time they met, Minnelli was out of work and in dire financial straits, and she claims Gest promised to save her from destitution by leveraging his celebrity contacts and inflated successes.
Acrimonious Legal Battles and Public Feud
The marriage, which began with a lavish ceremony featuring Michael Jackson as best man and Elizabeth Taylor as maid of honour, quickly turned stormy. In 2003, Gest sued Minnelli for $10 million, alleging she beat him during drunken rages and caused him amnesia by hitting him with a stiletto heel. He also claimed she was an alcoholic, overweight, and unable to be effectively merchandised.
Minnelli countersued for $2 million, accusing Gest of stealing money from her. Their relationship remained hostile until Gest's death in 2016 at age 62 from a stroke in a London hotel suite, just three months after appearing on Celebrity Big Brother. Following his death, journalist Cindy Adams reported that Minnelli referred to Gest as an a******, though a spokesman for Minnelli denied she had commented on his passing.
Legacy of a Troubled Union
The pair's divorce in 2007 formally ended years of separation and legal wrangling. Minnelli's memoir promises to shed further light on what she describes as an insane marriage that had to end quickly. Her revelations highlight the darker side of celebrity relationships, marked by control, financial exploitation, and public acrimony.
