Barbra Streisand Faces Backlash for ‘Unhinged’ Post About Alysa Liu’s Olympic Gold Medal
Barbra Streisand faced backlash for her “tone deaf” post about Team USA ice skater Alysa Liu‘s Olympic gold medal after mentioning she was “half Chinese.”
On Feb. 19, Lui, 20, won gold for her free skate performance at the 2026 Milano Cortina Games, becoming the first U.S. woman to do so in the last 24 years.
Streisand, 83, took to Instagram on Feb. 20 to celebrate the accomplishment, writing, “We were so happy to see Alysa Liu win the gold medal in Milan yesterday. My husband just showed me that in 2019 she skated to my song ‘Don’t Rain on My Parade.’ I’m so proud of her.”
The prolific singer continued, “I heard that she is half Chinese. My second family in Brooklyn that lived above us was a Chinese family called the Choys. I worked in their Chinese restaurant since I was 12 years old and also baby sat for their children. She was like a second mother to me.”
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In the comments, many of Streisand’s followers called her out for the sudden turn in the congratulatory message. One Instagram user wrote, “‘How do I make her gold medal winning accomplishment by an Asian woman about me?’ -Barbra probably.”
Another echoed, “How can I make someone else’s win about me.'”
Someone else admitted, “‘I heard she is half Chinese’ took me out,” as a second follower agreed, writing, “half Chinese and then immediately recounts her encounter with Chinese people 😂.”
A different fan declared, “Legendary caption. Like WTF, lol.”
Another Instagram user commented, “This is such a stupid post. ‘Oh, I heard Alysa Liu is half Chinese, so let me tell you about this Chinese family I know.’ WTH?”
Still, someone else pointed out, “It is very grandma coded. 😂😭 it’s unhinged & odd thing to say, but I think she means no harm. Just old AF😭.”
Yet another follower wondered, “Why would you think this caption is okay.”
Meanwhile, a different Instagram user shared, “Just congratulating her would have been enough.”
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This story was originally published by Parade on Feb 24, 2026, where it first appeared in the News section. Add Parade as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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