Gest blames paper for Minnelli split

David Gest blames his breakup with Liza Minnelli on a tabloid article, not alleged physical abuse.

Gest told Stone Phillips in a “Dateline NBC” interview to be broadcast Friday that Minnelli “beat me and hit me everywhere,” but it was a National Enquirer article portraying his estranged wife as an alcoholic that led to the relationship’s end.

“She got the magazine on a Wednesday morning and on Thursday announced our marriage was over.”

The 50-year-old Gest denies having anything to do with the tabloid report and said he might still be together with the 57-year-old Minnelli had it not been published.