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Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Usher Urged To Return Millions Made Performing For Qaddafi's Family
Posted on Tue Mar 1, 2011 12:21 PM PDT
Beyonce, Mariah Carey, Usher and 50 Cent are facing calls from music industry insiders to return the millions they made performing for members of controversial Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi's family members.
Mariah Carey reportedly earned $1 million in 2008 to sing only four songs for Qaddafi's son, Muatassim, during a New Year's Eve bash in St. Barts.
Beyonce and Usher also performed for an undisclosed sum for family members on the same Caribbean island just one year later. 50 Cent performed for Muatassim at a 2005 film festival in Venice.
"If it were me, it would go to charity," says Buck Williams, an agent for R.E.M. and Widespread Panic. As for what these performers, who are millionaires several times over, should do with this cash, "Hopefully donate it to a charity that somehow assists some of the people who have suffered at the hands of that regime," an agent for Arcade Fire told Rolling Stone.
Artists faced similar criticism decades ago after playing at a resort in South Africa during apartheid. Rod Stewart, Queen and the British band Status Quo donated money to charities after facing similar outcries.
But despite the current unrest going on in his country, Quaddafi didn't suddenly become a bad guy. In 1988, he ordered the bombing of a Pan Am flight over Lockerbie, Scotland, which resulted in the deaths of 270 people. So why would they perform for such a corrupt ruler in the first place?
"Ninety percent of the time the artist has no clue," says Williams. "I don’t think most artists go into [performing at a party like this] with that kind of in-depth focus, [of] how each country is governed and what goes on inside each country," an agent for Metallica, Billy Joel and Rod Stewart said. "Not every artist is a humanitarian. In more cases than not, for people, greed rules."
But for one artist, that's clearly not the case. On Friday, Nelly Furtado tweeted:
"In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Qaddafi clan to perform a 45 min. Show for guests at a hotel in Italy. I am going to donate the $"
Although Nelly is certainly not hurting, if she can afford to donate her $1 million fee, can't Beyonce and Mariah and 50 afford it a hundred times over?
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Comments
"all people are inherently good" no artist in a. their right mind, b. with the knowledge of his corrupt acts, would go through with that...
they know ppl r looking at them and judging them..
They should APOLOGIZE to Pan Am 103 victim's families.
How about Sean Penn, Danny Glover and Naomi Campbell cozying up to MURDERERS like Chavez and Castro and Liberia's Taylor.
Chavez is currently in cahoots with Iran infiltrating terrorists through the southern border...all while granny is getting groped at the Airport by TSA govt. goons.
Didn't Kylie Minogue also take money from him?
Greed, Greed, blood money Greed--it's all about them making millions. If they truly felt ashamed they took money from a familty that slaughters people they would donate the money to a charity that will benefit these people in the future. Fat chance of that 'cause they are all money grubbing and self centered.
So American money isn't blood/oil and/or drug money??? smh LOL That is the silliest mess that I have ever heard.
Most musicians give back anyways!!!
The American media loves to talk with a forked tongue about other leaders vs our own leaders and agenda.
i dont think they should return any of it.This country opened the door for things like this.all of our cammanders in chief.They were once friends with him,now a double standard.We are killing their babies.
Hey knob ends its with a G not a Q !!
Gaddafi.
Hey idiot @ 7:19 pm, "Qadaffi" is the correct ARABIC spelling of his name."Gadaffi" is the anglicized verison.
This is so typical. Trying to make examples out of little fish. Do I hear any calls to major oil companies to give back the billions they have made in Lybia. Do I here calls for the hundred of lobbyists, consultants and politicians who have made multiple millions from business ties with the "family" in Libya. Jutst today they have started to report on "consultants" who have pushed foreign policy to normalize relations with Libya so that they can make money for their US clients. Before you start calling for people to give back $1M each try starting with the people who have made BILLIONS. Their crimes are far more insulting as they created an atmosphere which made it okay to do a concert for a Libyan dictator.
muahhahahaha...Beyonce has sharpies for eyebrows...CLASSY!!!!!!