Liza Minnelli Alleges She Was Forced into Wheelchair for 2022 Oscars with Lady Gaga
Legendary singer and actress Liza Minnelli has made a startling claim in an excerpt from her forthcoming memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, asserting that she was inexplicably ordered to use a wheelchair during her 2022 Oscars appearance alongside Lady Gaga. The 79-year-old icon insists this decision was made without her consent, describing it as a humiliating and unnecessary imposition.
The Controversial Order
In the memoir excerpt, obtained by People magazine, Minnelli details how she was originally supposed to sit in a director's chair to present an award at the ceremony. However, she alleges that plans changed abruptly, with producers demanding she use a wheelchair or not appear at all. "I was inexplicably ordered — not even asked — to sit in a wheelchair or not appear at all. 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.
She expressed deep frustration, stating, "I will not be treated this way, I said. My co-presenter insisted she would not go on stage with me unless I was in a wheelchair. I was heartbroken." This co-presenter was Lady Gaga, with whom Minnelli shared the stage to honour the 50th anniversary of the film Cabaret.
On-Stage Struggles and Aftermath
Minnelli described the practical difficulties of being in a wheelchair during the live broadcast. "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. 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 questioned.
She also recounted a moment during the presentation when she stumbled over words, noting that Lady Gaga quickly stepped in. "So when I stumbled over a few words, Gaga, who was at my side, didn’t miss a beat to play the kindhearted hero for all the world to see. 'I got you,' she said, leaning down over me," Minnelli wrote. After the appearance, Lady Gaga visited Minnelli in her dressing room to check on her, to which Minnelli responded graciously, "I looked at her and said simply, 'I'm a big fan.'"
Previous Claims and Context
This is not the first time such allegations have surfaced. Pianist and friend Michael Feinstein previously made similar claims on The Jess Cagle Show, stating that Minnelli was sabotaged by being forced into a wheelchair against her wishes. Feinstein explained that the change occurred just minutes before she went on stage, following the chaotic incident where Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.
"She was sabotaged," Feinstein said at the time. "She said, 'I don’t want people to see me limping out there.' She said, 'You know, I wanna look good. I don’t want people to worry about me.'" He added that producers told her, "Well, it’s either that or nothing," leaving her with no choice.
Memoir Release and Background
Minnelli announced in 2024 that her memoir would be published in spring 2026, driven by her frustration with previous documentaries that "didn’t get it right" about her life. Kids, Wait Till You Hear This! is set for release on March 10, 2026, promising more revelations from the EGOT-winning performer and daughter of Judy Garland. Representatives for Lady Gaga have been contacted for comment by The Independent, but no response has been reported yet.
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about how aging performers are treated in high-pressure entertainment settings, with Minnelli's account shedding light on the emotional and professional toll of such decisions.
