Barbra Streisand seemed to mean it when she took to Instagram earlier this week to pay tribute to the Bay Area’s Alysa Liu, whose incredible, joy-filled performance at the 2026 Milan Olympics won her a gold medal.
But Streisand obviously couldn’t help it, she talked about some things in her post that left some respondents happy but others thinking that the entertainment legend was living up to her self-centered reputation. Others also thought that his reference to Liu being part Chinese was off the mark.
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“‘How can I do (this) win a gold medal with an Asian woman for me?’ – Barbra probably,” said another person.
Others read further, saying the 83-year-old EGOT-winning movie star, singer and director apparently meant well with her “lovely” post, though they also said she came off sounding like the “auntie” or “grandma” of someone who is “unconverted”.
Here’s how Streisand began her post: “So happy to see Alysa Liu win the gold medal in Milan yesterday.” The word “we” refers to Streisand and her husband, actor James Brolin.
But Streisand quickly shifted her focus at the age of 20 from being a Richmond skater to her first career success.
“My husband just showed me that in 2019 he skated to my song Don’t Rain on My Parade. I’m proud of him,” said Streisand.
“Don’t Rain on my Parade” is Streisand’s hit in the Broadway musical, “Funny Girl,” and in its 1968 film adaptation, for which she won an Academy Award for Best Actress.
Streisand then said of Liu: “I heard she’s part Chinese.” That realization led Streisand down memory lane and a fond memory from her childhood.
“My second family in Brooklyn that lived above us was a Chinese family called the Choys,” Streisand said. “I worked in their Chinese restaurant since I was 12 years old and the baby was their babysitter. She was like a second mother to me.”
But to Streisand’s fans, the remark seemed to have little to do with Liu. Her post did not even feature a photo of Liu but of her and her husband with people who may be members of the Choy family.
“This is a stupid post,” said one commenter. “‘Oh, I heard that Alysa Liu is part Chinese so let me tell you about this Chinese family I know’ WTH?”
That comment sparked a small debate over Streisand’s suitability to focus on Liu’s nationality. On the other hand, some thought that others were “too sensitive” and tried to analyze and “pick (everything) separately.” A third person said, “As an Asian, he obviously had good intentions. He’s 83 years old! And he just wants to tell and share a touching story from his childhood.”
But to that, the fourth said, “Hey, it’s not actually the race thing that I found dumb, but how weak the connection with Alysa Liu was to change everything about her.”
A fifth person agreed, asking: “Why did Streisand do this about her? When someone really congratulates someone; someone DOES THAT by writing a post about the person they are congratulating! Alysa Liu made herself a big win as she made herself a great, happy, happy win and her first win in 24 years in the US”
A sixth person chimed in and said with laughing emojis: “There’s a lot of granny code. It hasn’t changed and it’s (a) weird thing to say but I think she’s not saying anything.” In that article, the seventh person accused others of “managing your great grandmother.” The eighth person added: “I am 80 years old.
Still, some respondents were more amused by the situation, saying that Streisand’s post and the debate surrounding it were very funny. “It’s so funny. I’m sorry,” said a ninth person.
To that, someone said: “Barbra is allowed, everyone leave her alone.”
Who knows if Liu knows that he received a unique announcement from one of America’s most famous entertainers? As previously reported, the athlete arrived in the Bay Area on Monday night at San Francisco International Airport. On Tuesday night, she and some friends enjoyed dinner at Trabocco Kitchen and Cocktails in Alameda, where she enjoyed pasta Bolognese and a special dessert, a flourless “Halala” chocolate cake covered in chocolate.
