Liza Minnelli Supports Her Parents’ Divorce, Says They ‘Did Not Like Each Other’

Liza Minnelli had a chat with Interview Magazine in her West Hollywood home, ahead of the outlet’s 55th anniversary. She was only 5 when her celebrity parents, Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli got divorced in 1951, and in retrospect, she thinks their split was for the best.

Vincente was Judy’s second husband out of the five in her lifetime, and their marriage lasted only six years. They reportedly grew apart because Judy was already seeing her next spouse, Sidney Luft, and was battling drug addiction alongside mental challenges.

Liza Minnelli’s thoughts on her parents’ marriage

Liza admitted it was not fun being around her parents; hence, she never looked forward to them getting back together. She added that having Judy as her mother was challenging, but Vincente added a glamorous balance to her troubled childhood.

Despite the back and forth between two separated parents, Liza loved them both and found each of them fascinating. She recalled seeing her mother among other fascinating people, and accompanying Vincente, who was a theater director, to work. Watching them in their element was inspiring for Liza, who grew to become an entertainer herself.

Liza Minnelli says Judy Garland was strict

Liza experienced her parents differently, noting that Judy was strict and often behaved according to her mood or whoever she was married to at the time; meanwhile, Vincente was consistent and sweet to her. In her words, the late filmmaker treated her like his little princess.

Interestingly, Liza had a close relationship with her younger step-siblings from each of her parents’ subsequent marriages. Judy had two more children— Joey and Lorna, with Sid, while Vincente shared a daughter named Christine Nina with his second wife, Georgette Magnani.