Entertainment industry legend Liza Minnelli is recalling her “heartbreaking” experience presenting at the 2022 Oscars with Lady Gaga. She revealed that she was “forced” to use a wheelchair while going on the stage, when she had originally expected to be seated in a director’s chair.
Liza Minnelli shares her Oscar horror
In her upcoming memoir ‘Kids, Wait Til You Hear This,’ the 79-year-old wrote, “I was inexplicably ordered, not even asked, to sit in a wheelchair or not appear at all.”Minnelli also added that she was told it was because of her age, and for safety reasons. She continued, “because I might slip out of the director’s chair, which was bulls**t.” She said she resisted, “I will not be treated this way, I said,” however her co-presenter (Lady Gaga) insisted she would not go on stage with Minnelli unless she was in a wheelchair.”
Liza Minnelli was heartbroken
Minnelli admitted she “was heartbroken” because the wheelchair was lower than the director’s chair would have been, causing her to have difficulty seeing the teleprompter and stumble over the intro. “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.Liza Minnelli also wrote that Lady Gaga took the chance to be a kindhearted hero. “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.”Indeed, during the duo’s presentation of Best Picture, Liza, who received a standing ovation when she arrived on stage, attempted to read the teleprompter alongside Lady Gaga, but seemingly had a few issues. As she stumbled over the words, Gaga leaned over her and gently assured her, “I got you.”
