Bette Midler says daughter Sophie married in low-key wedding

Bette Midler has revealed that daughter Sophie von Haselberg has tied the knot in a low-key wedding ceremony.

The American actress, 74, told the Manila Bulletin that Sophie, 33, was married last week amid the coronavirus pandemic.   

Speaking about the occasion, Bette said: ‘It was a pandemic wedding, a very small wedding, and her husband, her new husband, hasn’t had a haircut in three months. So she looked online on how to cut hair and she gave him a pretty good haircut.’  

Bette, who was married to Martin von Haselberg for 36 years, added: ‘I think my daughter is going to have a great time.

‘She laughs incessantly, she sings, she dances. They both do and they are very joyful together. So it gives me a lot of happiness, tremendous happiness. 

‘And I think the best thing to do if you are a mother-in-law is to back off and let them have their lives and realise that you are not living their life and you don’t have all the answers and it’s up to them to find their own life and the answers.’ 

Sophie herself uploaded a light-hearted snap from her wedding day to Instagram on Thursday alongside a lengthy caption that read: ‘In the midst of COVID, a piece of $h!t president, and the power and poignancy of the Black Lives Matter movement, I got married! 

‘Because honestly, WHY NOT. It’s great to have cake smeared on your face by someone you love! And hot DAMN do I love this man! [sic]’ 

The announcement comes after it was confirmed Bette will take part in a virtual AIDS Walk: Live From Home edition to be live streamed next month.

The benefit event is being organized by AIDS Walk New York and AIDS Walk San Francisco, each of whom have long upheld the tradition every year of hosting a walk in support of community members effected by HIV and AIDS.

This year, due to the ongoing and more recent COVID-19 pandemic, the two organizations are coming together for the first time for this 90-minute online event, which will see appearances or performances from Midler, Gloria Estefan and Queer Eye’s Tan France, Bobby Berk and Karamo Brown, among others. 

AIDS Walk: Live From Home will stream on July 19th, and will benefit both New York’s GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) and San Francisco’s PRC (Positive Resource Center). 

The lineup of those set to participate will also include Matt Bomer, Vanessa Williams, Laura Linney, Alan Cumming and Alex Newell, along with RuPaul’s Drag Race stars.

‘Stemming from the uncertainty surrounding the current healthcare crisis, we collectively decided to bring teams together virtually to create a new vision for the Bay Area’s largest, single-day AIDS-related fundraiser,’ PRC chief executive officer Brett Andrews said.

The event will mark AIDS Walk San Francisco’s 33rd active year.

AIDS Walk New York was founded in 1986, and has been considered the largest walkathon in the world. 

And GMHC’s chief executive officer Kelsey Louie said that proceeds from this year’s event cannot come at a better time. 

‘With people sheltering at home, we are bringing GMHC’s services directly to the doorsteps of thousands. We’ve delivered more than 30,000 meals thus far,’ Louie said in a statement. 

‘We are meeting the skyrocketing need for mental health services and legal services, substance use counseling, and HIV home testing. Videoconferencing and other technologies have been harnessed to provide help with supportive housing, financial management, and so much more, so that our clients’ vital resources continue uninterrupted. 

Midler, 74, has been a longtime ally of the LGBTQ community as well as those affected by HIV and AIDS, and has participated in many charity events and benefits over the years as a speaker and performer.