Liza Minnelli: 'Ellen didn't mean any harm with 'transphobic' Oscars joke'

Mar 04 2014
Written by Nick Duffy

Liza Minnelli has defended Ellen DeGeneres from critics who labelled her transphobic after she made a joke at the Cabaret singer's expense at the Oscars on Sunday.

While hosting the ceremony, DeGeneres had quipped of Minnelli: "Hello to the best Liza Minnelli impersonator I've ever seen. Good job, sir."

Adult film director Bruce LaBruce was not amused, labelling the joke "transphobic and disrespectful" on Twitter.
Talking to TMZ , Minnelli said: "I think it went a little stray on her. I don't think she meant any harm at all, and I think she's a wonderful lady."

"I think she thought it would be funny, but she never stopped after she said it to say 'my friend, Liza Minnelli'."

The pair appeared to reconcile after the ceremony, as DeGeneres tweeted a picture of the pair labelling them 'besties'.