Michael Feinstein Liza Minnelli was sabotaged by the Oscars VIDEO

Michael Feinstein: Liza Minnelli was ‘sabotaged’ by the Oscars: VIDEO

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Singer Michael Feinstein claimed his good friend Liza Minnelli was “sabotaged” at the Oscars by being spotted on stage in a wheelchair.

While the shocking slap gate at this year’s Oscars became a never-ending topic of conversation, some people chose to highlight the heartwarming moment hosts Liza Minnelli and Lady Gaga shared on stage.

“You know how much I love working with legends and it’s an honor to present the final award of the night with a true show business legend,” Gaga said of Minnelli, daughter of Judy Garland and director Vincente Minelli.

Minnelli, who is 76, was brought out in a wheelchair and appeared upset as she fiddled with her notes.

But Gaga gently reassured the cabaret actress by telling her, “I got you,” and helped her announce the best picture nominees — which eventually went to Coda.

It was a heartwarming respite after the controversial violent incident that night.

However, Michael Feinstein shed some light on the drama surrounding Minnelli, which was reportedly unfolding behind the scenes just moments before her performance.

Speaking to The Jess Cagle Show on Sirius XM, Feinstein — a cabaret singer/pianist and proponent of the Great American Songbook — claimed that Minnelli requested a director’s chair for the Oscars presentation because of back pain.

But at the last minute, the producers gave her a wheelchair.

According to Feinstein, “it was sabotaged.”

“That’s a terrible word, but she only agreed to appear at the Oscars if she would be in the director’s chair because she has back problems.”

You can watch the interview with Feinstein here.

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Feinstein said Minnelli didn’t want fans to see her limping across the stage and worry about her.

But the resulting chaos from earlier in the evening left the producers confused. When Minnelli was in the director’s chair backstage five minutes before proceeding, a stage manager told her she would have to be in a wheelchair.

“Liza was pleading,” said Feinstein, who said he was with her at the time.

“She said, ‘No, I won’t be seen in a wheelchair in front of everyone. I won’t do this. I refuse to do this’.”

The legendary actress and singer was given an ultimatum of either being in a wheelchair or “nothing”.

When Feinstein asked her what she wanted to do, Minnelli relented and reluctantly said, “I’ll do it.”

“And she was so shaken that she was confused. She was nervous and she looked like she was beside herself,” Feinstein recalled.

“She was just so shattered… Can you imagine being seen by millions of people where you don’t want to be seen? That happened to her.”

“She was very disappointed that this happened.”

Some social media users were skeptical of Feinstein’s claim and felt his use of the word “sabotage” was excessive.

The suspicion was confirmed for others.

Regardless of what may have happened before Minnelli and Gaga approached the stage, their heartwarming exchange as hosts left the lasting impression we all needed.