Liza Minnelli, 80, has struggled at various points during her life, and has also been to multiple rehab centres.
Liza Minnelli has admitted she “self-medicated to foggy perfection” before seeking help for her addiction issues in 1984.
The 80-year-old singer has struggled at various points during her life, and has also been to multiple rehab centres.
And in a post on Instagram, the legendary star opened up about the reasons she first sought help, as she wrote: “In Manhattan, I had favorite bars where bartenders were happy to serve me any hour I showed up. I had boxes of pills and bottles of booze stashed away in my co-op apartment.
“With no one watching, I self-medicated myself to foggy perfection, to a place where I felt nothing or no one could hurt me.”
Liza – the daughter of Judy Garland – accompanied the post with a picture of herself from the time, sitting on a sofa looking tired and sweaty.
After finding fame in New York, Liza moved to Los Angeles – where her substance addictions continued.
She wrote: “Now, in California, I got lost in the same fog. It was the same old bulls***, this time with more sunshine. That’s one of the reasons I checked into rehab as quickly as I did. I was out of options.”
Liza’s first rehab stint was at the Betty Ford Center in Los Angeles, and she admitted she was “f****** scared to death” ahead of checking in.
But she had her family’s support, as she recalled: “I thank my amazing sister [Lorna Luft] who had to buy me a hot dog to get me on board Frank Sinatra’s private jet for my first rehab visit.
“Lorna, how the hell did you put up with me? My brother from another mother Michael Feinstein and his husband, Terrence Flannery, and my Dr. Lawrence D. Piro who refused to buy my Oscar worthy performances for drugs that could kill me … these four are the quartet that truly saved my life.”
Fans were quick to comment on the Instagram post, with one writing: “Liza, I read your biography – you are a brilliant and beautiful person! Always have been a decent human. Stay strong and know that people love you!”
As another added: “Liza-all love. You are one of a kind. Bless your circle. Sending all my love. Thank you for what you have given us all!!!”
And a third commented: “Love you, Liza. You are the absolute Queen and hero all us girls need.”
Liza Minnelli recalls ‘self-medicating to foggy perfection’ ahead of first rehab stint
