Barbra Streisand finally addressed the feud rumors between her and Judy Garland in her new memoir, My Name Is Barbra. The actress shared that when they teamed up for a duet, Judy was nervous on stage, unlike her, who was relaxed and composed. As Judy introduced the guests, Barbara humorously said to her, “Can I replace you?”
However, fans considered Barbra’s request rude and snobbish, but unknown to them, it was scripted and meant as a joke. “They thought it would get a laugh. And somehow, over the years, this has been twisted into a totally different story— that I came out on stage and really meant that!” Barbra wrote.
Barbra tells her truth in new book
While she considers the narrative about the incident with Judy to be “ridiculous” — as there was no way she could be so unfair in real life, Barbra hopes that readers will “know the truth” about her as she bares all about her decade-long acting career, relationships, and personal life.
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She told Gayle King on CBS Sunday Morning that she wrote “to talk about the myths about me,” which include her “past loves and regrets.” She admitted that although it was not her idea to get intimate about her romantic escapades, the book will cover her experiences with Don Johnson, Ryan O’Neal, Andre Agassi, and former Canadian prime minister Pierre Trudeau.
Barbra’s relationship with Judy
Contrary to what most people thought, Barbra and Judy maintained a cordial relationship as co-stars and then friends. Barbra noted that people sought false rivalry between them during the early days of her career. “People were looking for some sort of rivalry between us, and when they couldn’t find anything, they made it up,” she said.
Barbra highlighted their bond in her memoir, calling her late friend a “completely generous” person. She also recalled a warning Judy gave her about Hollywood during a party at her New York apartment. “I remember her saying something I never quite understood: ‘Don’t let them do to you what they did to me.’ I should have asked her what she meant, but I didn’t want to appear too nosy,” Barbra recalled.