Liza Minnelli's longtime friend Michael Feinstein believes that the Broadway legend was "sabotaged" at the Oscars 2022 by being "forced" to use a wheelchair, which raised questions about her health and prompted speculation about her future.

It can be remembered that she presented the award for Best Picture with Lady Gaga and the latter shone for helping Minnelli out when she stuttered. 

During the live broadcast on March 27, Minnelli, 76, shared the stage with Lady Gaga to present the award for Best Picture of the year.

 

Aside from the fact that she was in a wheelchair, she also made a number of teleprompter mistakes, which were very noticeable. But Lady Gaga helped her through it and even assured her that everyone's happy to see her and that she got her.

It was truly a tearjerking moment. But could Minnelli avoided the discomfort in the first place? Was she forced on the wheelchair and as a result, got so riled up she could not speak well?

That's what her friend says, anyway. 

As reported by the "Jess Cagle Show" on Sirius XM, Feinstein claimed that the "Cabaret" star had agreed to appear on the Oscars only if she would be in the director's chair because she had been experiencing back pain. 

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The singer added that Minnelli had stated that she wanted to "look nice" and that she didn't want people to "worry" about her, but a stage manager informed her that she would have to use a wheelchair just five minutes before she was scheduled to appear in front of the audience. 

"I guess they were all shaken up because of everything that had happened earlier," Feinstein said, referencing the moment Will Smith slapped Chris Rock.

In fact, according to The Hollywood Reporter, a number of prizes were presented between the time of the iconic event and Minnelli's appearance on the stage. 

Feinstein stated to Cagle, 56, that his friend begged him not to be seen in a wheelchair in front of everyone, saying, "No, I won't." This is something I will not do. "I was adamant about not doing this." 

The pianist, who claimed to have been at the backstage at the moment, stated that he asked Minnelli, "What do you want to do?" after hearing the news. 

He claims that Minnelli responded with "I'll do it," but that she was "so shocked that she was discombobulated" as a result. 

She was apprehensive, Feinstein asserted. Worse, it gave the impression that her friend was completely "out of it." And she was simply in such a state of disarray that people really thought she was. 

"Can you picture being compelled to be seen by millions of people in a way that you don't want to be seen?" says the friend. "She experienced something similar," he added. 

Feinstein stated that Minnelli was "very saddened" by what happened and that she is "actually doing well." He added that it is "a shame that it turned out that way." 

A representative from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences declined to comment. Minnelli's representatives were unable to be reached for comment immediately. 

However, according to Minnelli's former publicist Scott Gorenstein, who was instrumental in making the Oscars 2022 moment a reality, "Liza is living her greatest life without having to be in front of the cameras." 

"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."

Feinstein said Minnelli was "very disappointed" by what occurred and shared she is "really doing well" and "it's a shame that it turned out that way.

However, according to Minnelli's former publicist Scott Gorenstein, who was instrumental in making the Oscars 2022 moment a reality, Liza is living her greatest life without being in the limelight anyway. The thing is, the legend has already been performing with immense pressure her entire life that the last couple of years were a welcome change. She was able to relax and enjoy, the publicist said. 

Gorenstein added that Minnelli certainly had health concerns but she deserved to be at the Academy Awards.

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