Hollywood loves a feel-good awards show moment. But according to Liza Minnelli, her widely discussed appearance at the Academy Awards in 2022 was anything but heartwarming.
In her forthcoming memoir Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, Minnelli claims she was “inexplicably ordered — not even asked — to sit in a wheelchair or not appear at all” when presenting Best Picture at the Dolby Theatre. Her co-presenter? None other than global superstar Lady Gaga.
The revelation is reigniting debate over ageism, celebrity optics, and what truly happened during one of the most chaotic Oscar nights in recent history.
Why Liza Minnelli Says She Was “Heartbroken”
Minnelli, celebrating the 50th anniversary of Cabaret, was originally planning to sit in a director’s chair while presenting the award. Instead, she claims she was told to use a wheelchair for “safety reasons” due to her age.
“I was heartbroken,” Minnelli writes, alleging that Gaga insisted she would not go onstage unless Minnelli used the wheelchair.
The claim adds a surprising layer to what many viewers interpreted as a tender, supportive moment between two entertainment icons. At the time, Gaga was widely praised for her on-stage reassurance when Minnelli stumbled over her cue cards, gently saying, “I got you.”
But Minnelli now suggests that moment felt performative.
“Gaga… didn’t miss a beat to play the kindhearted hero for all the world to see.”
The Context: A Chaotic Oscars Night
The Best Picture presentation occurred shortly after Will Smith slapped Chris Rock onstage — a shocking incident that overshadowed much of the ceremony.
When Minnelli appeared, the audience gave her a standing ovation. Gaga told her, “Do you see that? The public, they love you!”
Minnelli appeared momentarily confused while sorting her cue cards, later explaining in her memoir that being seated lower made it difficult to read the teleprompter clearly.
Eventually, she announced the winner: CODA, which went on to make history as the first film with a predominantly Deaf cast to win Best Picture.
Ageism in Hollywood: A Bigger Conversation
Minnelli’s account raises uncomfortable but important questions:
- Was the wheelchair decision truly about safety?
- Was it optics?
- Or was it an example of age-based assumptions in Hollywood?
The entertainment industry has long faced criticism for how it treats aging performers — particularly women. Minnelli’s allegation that she was “ordered” rather than consulted highlights concerns about autonomy and respect for veteran artists.
Her parents — Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli — were Hollywood royalty. Minnelli writes that in moments of stress, she learned from them to “stay gracious.” And she did. After the ceremony, she recalls telling Gaga simply:
“I’m a big fan.”
Why This Story Is Trending Again
This controversy is resurfacing now because memoir revelations often reshape public perception. What once looked like a viral moment of kindness now faces reinterpretation.
Search interest around:
- “Liza Minnelli wheelchair Oscars”
- “Lady Gaga Oscars 2022 incident”
- “Academy Awards ageism controversy”
- “Kids, Wait Till You Hear This memoir”
…is spiking as audiences reassess that night.
The Academy and Gaga’s Response
A representative for the Academy declined to comment. Gaga’s team has not publicly responded to Minnelli’s claims at this time.
Until further clarification emerges, the incident remains a matter of competing narratives: one of compassion on live television, the other of behind-the-scenes heartbreak.
The Legacy Question
Regardless of controversy, Minnelli remains one of Hollywood’s most celebrated performers. An Oscar winner herself, she is an enduring symbol of Broadway brilliance and cinematic excellence.
The question now isn’t just what happened in 2022 — it’s what this moment says about respect, control, and dignity for legends in the spotlight.
As the entertainment world awaits further responses, one thing is clear: this story has shifted from a viral Oscar highlight to a broader cultural conversation about power, perception, and aging in Hollywood.
And that conversation is only just beginning.
About the Author
