LIZA Minnelli is setting the record straight.
The Oscar winner announced her new, explosive memoir will be released next year, adding a “series of unfortunate events” determined her decision to write the book.
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The memoir will be written in collaboration with Pulitzer Prize winner Heidi Evans and former Los Angeles Times journalist Josh Getlin, People reported on Tuesday.
It will cover Liza’s childhood, growing up as the daughter of Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli, as well as her rise to fame, substance abuse struggles, and high-profile marriages.
In a statement, the 78-year-old Cabaret star said, “Since I was old enough to put pencil to paper, people asked me to write books about my career
“‘Absolutely not! ‘Tell it when I’m gone!’ Was my philosophy,” Liza added.
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She ultimately changed her mind and decided to could reclaim the narrative about her “life, loves and family” amid rampant misinformation and a “sabotaged appearance at the Oscars.”
“Finally, I was mad as hell!” Liza addressed her fans. “Over dinner one night, I decided, it’s my own damn story…I’m gonna share it with you because of all the love you’ve given me.”
Liza’s longtime friend Michael Feinstein is also listed as a collaborator on the memoir that will “highlight Minnelli’s most significant contributions to the lexicon.”
Michael famously declared Liza was “sabotaged” at the 2022 Oscar Awards after she was brought on stage in a wheelchair against her wished.
Liza was presenting the Best Picture Oscar alongside Lady Gaga at the ceremony in March 2022.
Michael later said Liza was “very disappointed” by the whole experience, claiming it was adversely impacted after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.
“She was sabotaged,” Michael alleged during an appearance on The Jess Cagle Show on April 19.
“That’s a terrible word to use, but she only agreed to appear on the Oscars if she would be in a director’s chair, because she’s been having back trouble.
“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,'” the 67-year-old singer continued.
He added that Liza was forced to appear on a wheelchair “literally five minutes before she went on” during the chaos that ensued after Will struck Chris on stage.
“The stage manager said, ‘Well, she has to be in a wheelchair’ and Liza pleaded. She said, ‘No, I will not be seen in a wheelchair in front of everybody. I will not do this. I refused to do this,'” Michael claimed.
“And they said, ‘Well, it’s either that or nothing.’”
The whole ordeal left Liza “discombobulated” and “shaken up”, as Michael added, “Can you imagine being suddenly forced to be seen by millions of people the way you don’t wanna be seen?#
“That’s what happened to her.”
Liza was advised to use a wheelchair after she was diagnosed with viral encephalitis in October 2000.
It is an inflammation of the brain and encephalitis can lead to movement disorders, seizures, and sensitivity to light and sound.
‘NO INTEREST IN SEEING IT’
In 2020, it was claimed Liza had “no interest in seeing” Judy, the 2019 biopic about her mother that won lead Renée Zellwegger the Best Actress Oscar.
Her interview with Variety, that was published before Renee’s performance was recognized by the Academy noted, “Minnelli has no interest in seeing the film.
“All she will say right now is ‘I hope [Renée ] had a good time making it.'”
Liza previously distanced herself from the project in a Facebook post in 2019, describing reports that she was bonding with Renée ahead of filming as “100% fiction.”
“I have never met nor spoken to Renée Zellweger… I don’t know how these stories get started, but I do not approve nor sanction the upcoming film about Judy Garland in any way.”
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