Liza Minnelli Details 'Traumatising' Marriage to 'Conman Clown' David Gest
Oscar-winning actress and singer Liza Minnelli has candidly revealed the harrowing details of her short-lived marriage to television personality and producer David Gest, describing it as a 'traumatising' experience that left her feeling like a 'prisoner'. In extracts from her new memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, shared with The Times, the 79-year-old icon portrays Gest as a 'fast-talking, wheeler-dealing' conman who exploited her during a period of vulnerability.
'I Clearly Wasn't Sober When I Married This Clown'
Minnelli admits that her decision to marry Gest in 2002 was clouded by a lack of sobriety, stating bluntly, 'I clearly wasn't sober when I married this clown.' She reflects on ignoring 'red flags flapping in my face' and falling for what she now calls 'crap'. The marriage, which lasted only 16 months before their separation in 2003 and official divorce in 2007, began during what Minnelli describes as a time of 'financial desperation and vulnerability'.
Despite feeling 'no physical attraction to him', she accepted Gest's offer to rescue her after medical expenses left her 'flat broke'. He had convinced her that he had made money for Michael Jackson's family, a claim she later realised was part of his deceptive persona.
The Unravelling of a Star-Studded Union
After a lavish, star-studded wedding costing $3.2 million—where Michael Jackson served as best man and Elizabeth Taylor as maid of honour—the relationship quickly deteriorated. Minnelli alleges that Gest returned many of their wedding gifts, sold them, and 'pocketed the cash' without her knowledge. He then proceeded to 'raid' her bank accounts, stripping her of financial security.
More devastatingly, she claims he stole her 'confidence, freedom and independence', controlling every aspect of her life, from what she ate to who she was allowed to speak with. 'I was his prisoner,' Minnelli writes, emphasising the psychological grip he held over her. The situation escalated to physical altercations, with Minnelli describing fights 'like animals' after Gest sold her furniture and redecorated her apartment to resemble 'a bargain-basement crash pad'.
Aftermath and Legal Battles
The marriage ended in what Minnelli calls a 'nasty, brutal divorce', contrasting it with her earlier marriages where love endured post-split. She expresses deep regret, asking, 'What the hell was I thinking?' but also takes responsibility, acknowledging that if she had been 'full clear and sober', she would not have been 'bulldozed' by him. The experience led her to swear off marriage forever after this 'nightmare' ordeal.
Following their split, Gest sued Minnelli for $10 million, alleging he was a victim of 'domestic violence' due to beatings during her drunken rages. Minnelli denied these accusations, and the lawsuit was dismissed in 2006 due to a lack of 'triable issue of fact'. Gest, known for producing Michael Jackson's 30th-anniversary celebration special, later appeared on reality shows like I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here! in 2006 and Celebrity Big Brother in 2016, exiting the latter for medical reasons. He died two months later at age 62 from a stroke.
Minnelli's revelations shed light on a dark chapter in her life, highlighting themes of manipulation, financial exploitation, and personal resilience in the face of celebrity turmoil.
