The actress, singer, and fashion icon Liza Minnelli was “forced” to appear in a wheelchair at the 94th Academy Awards. Michael Feinstein, a singer and pianist and long-time collaborator of Minnelli, claimed on SiriusXM’sThe Jess Cagle Show, perThe Guardian, on Tuesday, that her appearance to present the Best Picture Award at the end of the ceremony left her “very disappointed” because she didn’t want people to “worry” about her.
During the March 27th broadcast, Minnelli presented theOscar for Best Picture toCODAwith her co-presenter Lady Gaga, although the moment was somewhat overshadowed by “The Slap.” On the “Jess Cagle” show, Feinstein claimed that Minnelli only agreed to appear on the award show if she could be seated in a director’s chair. However, the disruption caused the Oscar organizers to shake things up and change the plan for theCabaret-star abruptly (even though it was reported that several awards were handed out between the infamous incident and Minnelli taking the stage, giving the stage manager ample time to prepare (at least, in theater world time)).
“She only agreed to appear at the Oscars if she would be in a director’s chair because she’s been having back trouble,” said Feinstein. “She said, ‘I don’t want people to see me limping out there.’ She said, ‘You know, I want to look good. I don’t want people to worry about me.'” However, he did not add what the original plan was for getting Minnelli from backstage to the onstage director’s chair, whether the Broadway star could walk a short distance without “limping,” or if she was initially supposed to be wheeled onto the stage and then transfer to the chair during an ad break.
Feinstein added that a stage manager informed her that she’d be seated in a wheelchair rather than a director’s chair only five minutes before appearing. The pianist who was present backstage during the event in question said that upon learning of the abrupt switch, his pal pleaded, “No, I will not be seen in a wheelchair in front of everybody. I will not do this. I refuse to do this.”
Minnelli was already “nervous” about the appearance, and then “it made her look like she was out of it. Can you imagine being suddenly forced to be seen by millions of people the way you don’t want to be seen? That’s what happened to her.”
Liza Minnelli is ‘Living Her Best Life’
Minnelli’s appearance at the Oscars worried many long-time fans of the incredible talent (which includes Lady Gaga, who is friends with Minnelli and personally requested her appearance and the Academy Awards). However, theArrested Developmentactress’s close friends have said recently that fans do not need to worry about her health, despite noting she has “had some health problems,” like a bad back.
Minnelli’s former publicistScott Gorenstein previously said, “Liza is living her best life, not having to be in front of the cameras. She’s been under tremendous pressure her entire life to perform for audiences. The past couple of years have allowed her to relax and enjoy another phase of her life.” However, the actress did take a brief break from retirement for a cameo appearance onHalston, which starred Ewan McGregor as the eponymous fashion designer.
