Beyonce, Mariah, Usher, Pressured to Give Away Qaddafi Money

By Tracey Harrington McCoy Posted Feb 28th 2011 07:50PM

Mariah Carey, Beyonce, Usher and 50 Cent are among the artists being pressured to return money received after performing for Libyan dictator Muammar Qaddafi and his family members, RollingStone.com reports.

Carey reportedly was paid $1 million to sing for Qaddafi's son, Muatassim, Libya's national-security adviser, at a New Year's Eve party on St. Barts in 2008. 50 Cent performed for Qaddafi's son in 2005, and Beyonce and Usher performed at a party in 2009 -- all for undisclosed sums of money.

"If it were me, it would go to charity," Buck Williams, agent for R.E.M. and Widespread Panic, told Rolling Stone. David T. Viecelli, agent for Arcade Fire added, "Hopefully donate it to a charity that somehow assists some of the people who have suffered at the hands of that regime."

Nelly Furtado announced Monday on Twitter that she intends to donate the $1 million she earned in 2007 performing for Qaddafi's family. "In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Qaddafi clan to perform a 45 min. Show for guests at a hotel in Italy," the singer tweeted. "I am going to donate the $."

Following an uprising leaving 1,000 Libyans dead, the Obama Administration has asked Qaddafi to step down after 40 years of rule.

Why would such prominent artists play for such a controversial family? R.E.M. agent Williams suggests some might not have known whom they were playing for. "Ninety percent of the time the artist has no clue... But the majority of my artists, if they knew something was funded by Qaddafi, they would not play it, and morally it would not rest well with them."

"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," sums up Dennis Arfa, agent for Metallica, Billy Joel and Rod Stewart. "Not every artist is a humanitarian. In more cases than not, for people, greed rules."

Tags: Beyonce, mariah carey, nelly furtado

Comments

(49)

Monday 28 February

By just

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why not Larry King and the TV station give money back for intereviewing him on thier show and the money they collect from advertismen. Fiar is fair.

By DiamondMom

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What a disgusting disgrace! None of these "artists" were so hard up for more cash that they lowered themselves to perform for a dictator who has continuously abused the citizens of that country! Shame on them!

By JANET

WTH DOES THAT MEAN. I WOULD NOT GIVE THE MONEY BACK NOR WOULD I DONATE IT. THEY ALL DID A SERVICE AND WAS PAID FOR IT. IF ANY OF YOU DID A SERVICE AND WAS PAID YOU WOULD NOT GIVE IT BACK OR DONATE IT EITHER....LETS GET REAL, THIS MONEY, THEY DID NOT BREAK THE LAW, KILL OR STEAL IT. STOP LYING TO YOURSELF

By Barbara

They have never heard of Qaddafi!! Stupid; if they had been alive during the 1930s, I suppose they would have entertained for Hitler.

By dredselw

Black entertainers are not known for giving to charity!

Tuesday 01 March

By Ted Bundy

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Black people in general aren't. And they don't leave tips.

Sunday 19 June

By penny

Doesn't anyone recognize whats going on here...Our government gives "our" money to Libya. Libya "buys" our entertainment...therefore..."our" money paid for "our" entertainers! Wake Up!!

By VCollier

Who do u people think u are, telling others 2 give away their hard earned money? Perhaps u should allow me 2 tell u what 2 do with money u have in your bank accounts. C how kindly u take 2 others telling u 2 get your money out and give it away. U guys have some loose screws somewhere.

By Gia

They can donate some to us! My husband lost his job of almost 30 years and we're losing our home. It's hard to find jobs for middle aged grandparents that grew up in a world where we worked and made good money without having to have a degree. Now they changed everything and fired millions of people that don't have the time or money to get a degree! We should be enjoying our grandchildren and our kids but here we are nervous and sick knowing that this is probably the last year in our home. A home that we worked so hard to fix and update over the years. It's a disgusting game these banks are playing with us! Once we lose our home, the bank will put it back on the market and sell it to someone else for a fraction of what we were trying to pay! OUR GOVERNMENT should make the banks re write our loans so we can stay in our homes! As for these stars taking millions from a mental nut job dictator.... they should give that money to good charities and next time say NO when some creepy 3rd world rich pig wants to pay them for a private show!

By doneldathomas

Gia, what you said is so true...My prayers are with you.

Gia, what you said is so true..You are in my prayers!!!

By kenhp1

They worked and earned the money honestly. Why should they give back their pay. I think it is ridiculous. These performers have no say in the political climate of Libya. leave them alone.

By Bigcity

People get real, They did the gig earn it they keep the money I would not give back a penny WhY? LoL
I don't see anyone giving money back for money earn from the bad and worthless stocks that sank this country.

Get a life.

By Redd

Suprised, these same hip hoppers are the ones begging for the american taxpayers money for mosquito nets, aids drugs and clean water. HA. busted. throw away the skin bleach and weaves and take care of someone who needs it you hipocrites.

By ann

You can bet that all liberals are in bed with terrorist! They knew damn well who they were playing for. Do they take us for fools? Like I have always said, "who needs terrorist when you have liberals"!

By karen

I remember when Beyonce and Usher performed, and they both knew AT THE TIME, WHO THEY WERE PERFORMING FOR. They are just greedy, and don't care if their money is used to kill and torture innocent people, as long as they wield more power. WE SHOULD DEPORT THEM TO LIBYA.. TODAY!!

By Lolapod

Evil - give it back - I'm sure there is a lot more blood money out there too!

By Robert

George Bush restored diplomatic ties with Libya in the mid-2000s and Condoleeza Rice visited Libya. Most European countries did it earlier than that. UK Prime Minister Tony Blair visited Libya in 2004. Many American and European corporations do business with Libya. I was reading many European citizens were even working over there in regular jobs. The man that Mariah and Beyonce performed for has even been to the White House. Hillary Clinton said we valued Libya's relationship at the time of his visit. We're enemies with countries and then we normalize relations. I can't always expect celebrities to be the most knowledgeable about politics and as long as they're not breaking laws I can't really say anyting. The ironic thing is that most of the celebrities have given away several million to charities in the last few years, but to ones here in America. I think if we're going to ask the entertainers to give the money back are we going to ask all the corporations to give the money back which would be billions of dollars, not 1 million or 2 million.

By Mr Glitter Balls

What happens if this is taken to extremes ? I don't want some Native American taking my 1080p TV because of the Something De Gama did in 1710 .

By frances

wow ted bundy...you are a special kind of stupid aren't ya? LOST HER JOB AFTER 28 YEARS....lets read it together.

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