Lady Gaga Spotted For First Time Since Liza Minnelli Memoir Bombshell

By Kelly Coffey-Behrens on February 22, 2026 at 3:00 PM EST

Lady Gaga (left) Liza Minnelli (right)
Advertisement

Lady Gaga stepped out for a rare night on the town with her fiancé, Michael Polansky, just as headlines surrounding unexpected drama with Broadway legend Liza Minnelli began circulating again. The pop icon has remained publicly silent after excerpts from Minnelli’s upcoming memoir reignited conversation about their awkward 2022 Oscars moment, but the timing of her latest outing suggests she may be leaning on loved ones amid the renewed attention. The sighting also comes during a major career high for Gaga, who recently delivered a record-breaking Super Bowl performance alongside Bad Bunny.

Article continues below advertisement

Lady Gaga And Michael Polansky Enjoy Rare Night Out

Lady Gaga and Michael Polansky on SNL 50: Red Carpet -New York City....
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Gaga and Polansky were photographed leaving the exclusive members-only Soho House in West Hollywood on Friday evening following dinner together. The outing marked a relatively uncommon public appearance for the couple, as Gaga has maintained a busy schedule since launching her "Mayhem Ball Tour" last July.

The singer embraced her signature dark aesthetic for the evening, wearing an all-black ensemble featuring a mock turtleneck top with elbow-length sleeves paired with a mini skirt that highlighted her toned legs. She completed the look with black boots, oversized sunglasses, and her straight platinum-blonde hair worn down.

Article continues below advertisement

Polansky followed closely behind, dressed more casually in a black jacket, dark pants, and a baseball cap that partially obscured his face. The pair were seen stepping into a waiting vehicle together, with their driver holding the door open.

See the photos here.

Article continues below advertisement

Liza Minnelli’s Memoir Claims Gaga Was ‘Condescending’

Liza Minnelli at London photo call 2002
Fred Duval/MEGA

The public outing comes shortly after new claims from Minnelli’s upcoming memoir, "Kids, Wait Till You Hear This," began making headlines.

According to excerpts, the 79-year-old icon alleged Gaga pushed for her to use a wheelchair while they co-presented the Best Picture award at the 2022 Academy Awards. Minnelli claimed she "was inexplicably ordered, not even asked, to sit in a wheelchair or not appear at all. I was told it was because of my age, and for safety reasons, because I might slip out of the director’s chair, which was bullsh-t. 'I will not be treated this way,' I said.’"

Article continues below advertisement

She also described feeling deeply hurt by the situation, writing that she was "heartbroken" by the events and frustrated by her positioning onstage, adding that she "was much lower down than I would have been in the director’s chair. Now I couldn’t easily read the teleprompter above me. How would you feel if you were wheeled out, against your will, to perform in front of a live audience, and unable to see clearly?"

Article continues below advertisement

The Oscars Moment Still Stings For Minnelli

Liza Minnelli and Lady gaga at Oscars 2022
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The memoir also revisits the onstage moment itself, during which Minnelli briefly stumbled over her words while presenting. She recalled that "when I stumbled over a few words, Gaga, who was at my side, didn’t miss a beat to play the kindhearted hero for all the world to see. 'I got you,' she said, leaning down over me."

Minnelli later claimed Gaga checked on her backstage, asking, "Are you okay?" to which Minnelli politely responded, despite her feelings at the time. She explained that she replie, "I'm a big fan," having "learned this lesson years ago from Mama and Papa. At a moment of high stress, you stay gracious."

Lady Gaga Recently Celebrated Major Super Bowl Success With Bad Bunny

Lady Gaga at 2026 Grammy Awards
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

The renewed drama comes during a major professional high point for the singer. Earlier this month, Gaga joined Bad Bunny as a surprise guest during his Super Bowl halftime show performance, which reportedly drew more than 135 million viewers.

During the performance, Gaga appeared mid-show to perform her hit "Die With A Smile" with a salsa-inspired arrangement. She wore a baby blue dress accented with a red hibiscus flower as a tribute to Bad Bunny’s Puerto Rican roots.

Article continues below advertisement

Lady Gaga Shares Emotional Message To Bad Bunny After Epic Performance

Bad Bunny at the 2026 Grammy Awards
ZUMAPRESS.com / MEGA

Following the event, Gaga shared a heartfelt message on social media thanking the rapper, whose real name is Benito Ocasio.

"Thank you Benito for including me in this powerful, important, and meaningful performance. I am so humbled to be a part of this moment," she wrote. "It’s all the more special because it was with you and your beautiful heart and music. All my love to Benito, Ricky [Martin] and the whole cast."

Lady Gaga has not publicly responded to the claims in the memoir.

Advertisement