LIZ TAYLOR's embarrassing breakdown at the GOLDEN GLOBE AWARDS last Sunday (21JAN01) was due to drugs, according to her friends.

Taylor disgraced herself when she went to open the winning envelope on stage before even announcing the nominees. And according to pals of the NATIONAL VELVET star, the reason she got so confused was the medication she takes to keep her hip pain at bay.

One friend says, "It had to be a humiliating night for her. Liz takes pain medication to ease her constant agony from hip replacement surgeries and back problems. "But sometimes she becomes over-medicated. It was so sad to watch. Liz must be absolutely mortified."

(SVD/TS/KW)

Source: WENN