Liza Minnelli Exposes Turbulent Affair with Martin Scorsese in New Memoir
In her recently released memoir, "Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!", legendary actress and singer Liza Minnelli has unveiled a deeply personal and tumultuous chapter from her past. She details a "passionate" extramarital affair with acclaimed director Martin Scorsese during the mid-1970s, a relationship that spiraled into a severe cocaine addiction for both parties.
A Forbidden Romance on Set
The affair began while filming the 1977 musical film "New York, New York", a project that brought the two stars together under controversial circumstances. At the time, Minnelli was married to Jack Haley Jr., and Scorsese was wed to Julia Cameron, making their connection illicit from the start. However, as Minnelli recounts, their bond quickly extended beyond romance into a shared dependency on drugs.
"As we filmed, Marty became a heavier and heavier user of cocaine," Minnelli wrote, according to excerpts published by Page Six. "It seemed that it was no longer recreational for either of us. It was day and night. On the set, in between takes, and when we went out in the evening."
She describes them as "constant companions" in their addiction, with Scorsese rationalizing that cocaine fueled his creativity—a claim Minnelli now questions as a "fabulous lie" told in the grip of substance abuse.
Volatile Dynamics and Drug-Fueled Escapades
Minnelli, the Oscar-winning star of "Cabaret" and daughter of Judy Garland, portrays their relationship as fiery, with "volcanic" tempers on both sides. One explosive incident occurred when Scorsese confronted her on the street over her affair with dancer Mikhail Baryshnikov, while she was walking with her husband. "How can you do this to me. How can you do this to me!" he raged, as reported by Entertainment Weekly.
Their drug use often involved high-profile circles, including a visit to fashion designer Halston's home in search of chemical enhancement. Minnelli recalls demanding, "Give me all the drugs you've got," with Halston providing cocaine, marijuana, Valium, and quaaludes. Scorsese then kissed Halston on the cheek in gratitude before they departed, highlighting the casual yet dangerous nature of their lifestyle.
The Aftermath and Lingering Resentment
Despite their intense connection, the relationship eventually deteriorated. Minnelli asked Scorsese—who would later become a 10-time Oscar nominee for Best Director and win for "The Departed"—to direct her in the Broadway show "The Act", but it didn't work out. "We needed a theatre director," she explained, per The Guardian. "Marty had to go, but unfortunately the only person who could fire him was yours truly ... So I did what had to be done. It damn near killed me and broke my heart."
While Minnelli expresses relief that Scorsese overcame his addictions, she notes that not all wounds have healed. At the 2014 Oscars ceremony, she approached him to say hello, only for him to turn away. "Very sad," she remarked, according to Entertainment Weekly, indicating lingering resentment from their past.
HuffPost has reached out to a representative for Scorsese for comment on these revelations. For those struggling with substance use disorder or mental health issues, support is available in the U.S. through the SAMHSA National Helpline at 800-662-HELP (4357).
