Fans of Liza Minnelli who purchased signed copies of her memoir are demanding refunds after suspecting that the signatures are not genuine. The 80-year-old singer and actress released her memoir, Kids, Wait Till You Hear This!, with premium editions marketed as "hand-signed collectibles" priced up to $250 (£185). However, buyers have noted that the signatures appear unnaturally uniform, leading to accusations that they were produced by an autopen, a machine that replicates handwriting.
Collectors Raise Concerns
Autograph collector Gareth Brown bought a signed copy for £25 at a Kent bookshop. He told the Guardian, "When you see footage of Liza today in her own documentary, she is far too frail to have signed a handful of books this accurately, let alone hundreds." Brown added that he purchased the hardback specifically for the signature, but after examining it, he found the signature identical to others shared online.
Fans have used tracing paper overlays to compare signatures, concluding that they are unnaturally identical. Justin Steffman, CEO of autograph authentication service AutographCOA, examined several copies and stated, "It has sadly been common for many celebrities to sell 'signed' merchandise featuring fake signatures. So uncovering that Liza Minnelli's memoir features what looks like autopen-signed autographs was no surprise."
Industry Context
The autograph market is estimated to be worth over $25 billion globally, but collectors are increasingly wary of forgeries. In 2022, Bob Dylan apologized after copies of his book sold as hand-signed for $599 were found to be signed by autopen. Similarly, Sinéad O'Connor admitted in 2021 to using a stamp to sign 10,000 copies of her memoir, Rememberings.
Steffman noted that many top entertainers have used autopen machines or assistants to sign merchandise, and this practice is likely to continue. Brown expressed his disappointment: "I feel deceived. What I value about autographs is that they capture a moment in time of someone I admire. In this case, though, I feel robbed."
Publisher Response
Minnelli's agent and her US and UK publishers, Grand Central Publishing and Hodder, did not respond to requests for comment. Grand Central Publishing previously told Radar Online that all copies of the memoir had been signed by the author. Brown said he wrote to Hodder asking if the signature was digital but received no reply.
Minnelli, the daughter of late Hollywood star Judy Garland, made her screen debut as a toddler and recently released her first new music in 13 years, contributing vocals to an AI-created dance track. Fans have taken to online forums to discuss returning their copies, seeking refunds for what they believe are inauthentic signatures.
