Mariah Embarrassed by Gaddafi Performance

MARIAH EMBARRASSED BY GADDAFI PERFORMANCE
Mariah Carey has revealed she felt ''horrible and embarrassed'' after she was paid $1 million to sing for the son of Libya's Colonel Gaddafi.

The pregnant singer gave a private performance for members of the dictator's family at a party in the Caribbean in 2006 but has vowed to be careful about who she works for in future.

She said in a statement: "I was naive and unaware of who I was booked to perform for. I feel horrible and embarrassed to have participated in this mess."

"Ultimately we as artists are to be held accountable. Going forward, this is a lesson for all artists to learn from. We need to be more aware and take more responsibility regardless of who books our shows."

Colonel Gaddafi - who has been linked to terrorist activity and accused of running a brutal regime over his people for 40 years - has been asked to step down by leaders of the western world following a violent revolt in the Middle Eastern country, but has refused, even denying there is unrest in the state.

Mariah, 40, - who is expecting twins with her husband Nick Cannon - is not the only high profile singer to perform for the Libyan leader's family.

On Wednesday (March 2, 2011) Beyonce Knowles announced she gave a private performance for members of the dictator's family on New Year's Eve 2009, but instead of keeping the cash for herself she gave it all away to Haiti, following the devastating earthquake that ravaged the Caribbean nation in early 2010.

While earlier this week, Nelly Furtado revealed she is to donate the $1 million she earned performing for Gaddafi's family in 2007.

The "Powerless (Say What You Want)" singer 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 $ (sic)."

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Beyonce, Carey distance themselves from Gaddafi (Reuters)

LONDON (Reuters) – Singers Beyonce and Mariah Carey have sought to distance themselves from the tainted Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, for whose entourage they both performed at glitzy New Year's eve parties.

They joined Canadian artist Nelly Furtado, who used her Twitter account on Monday to declare she would give away the $1 million she received to perform a 45-minute set in Italy for Gaddafi's family in 2007.

Pop stars' association with Gaddafi and his sons has caused considerable embarrassment this week as the Libyan ruler orders a brutal crackdown on an uprising against his rule.

The music press has highlighted how artists including Beyonce and Carey have earned large paydays for sometimes brief appearances at lavish parties hosted by Gaddafi family members, including his son Muatassim. The stars have faced calls from fans and the public to give back the money they made.

Beyonce said she donated the cash she earned at a private party on the Caribbean island of St. Barts on New Year's Eve, 2009 to earthquake relief efforts in Haiti after learning the promoter had links to Gaddafi.

"Once it became known that the third party promoter was linked to the Qaddafi (Gaddafi) family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause," she said in a statement posted on her website.

On Thursday, Carey confirmed she had performed at a similar function "thrown by the sons of vicious, crazy dictator" Gaddafi and expressed her embarrassment, although she stopped short of promising to give the cash earned to charity.

A statement on her website said: "At the time, Libya was not in the news...Now it's become an issue in hindsight, which is sort of ridiculous."

She added that she would donate the proceeds from a new song "Save the Day" for unspecified "human rights issues" and stressed her previous charity work.

"I was naive and unaware of who I was booked to perform for," she said.

"I feel horrible and embarrassed to have participated in this mess. Going forward, this is a lesson for all artists to learn from. We need to be more aware and take more responsibility regardless of who books our shows.

"Ultimately we as artists are to be held accountable."

The International Criminal Court prosecutor said on Thursday that Gaddafi, his sons and members of their inner circle could be held responsible for crimes by their security forces.

The United Nations Security Council imposed sanctions on Gaddafi and his family on Saturday, and referred Libya's crackdown on demonstrators to the court.

(Reporting by Mike Collett-White)

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Beyonce Donates Gaddafi Performance Money to Haiti Relief

Last week it was reported that pop stars Beyonce, Mariah Carey and Usher were among those who received money to perform at private functions for Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi and his family. In response to the public scrutiny for receiving money from the ruling brood that has threatened its own people with "rivers of blood," some of the stars are donating the money to charity.

Earlier this week, Nelly Furtado announced she would donate the $1 million to charity for the money she received four years ago from the Gaddafi family.

Now Beyonce is following suit, as the Huffington Post is reporting that she donated $1 million to the Clinton Foundation shortly after the January 12, 2010 earthquake in Haiti.

According to a statement released today from a rep for the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, "Once it became known that the third-party promoter was linked to the Gaddafi family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause."

While the news did not come from Beyonce herself, and no one can be certain if the donation was made because of the Gaddafi connection or not, giving $1 million to the Haitian relief fund is worthy of praise regardless.

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Nelly Furtado will donate million dollars which she received from Gaddafi

Celebrities who have received money from Muammar Gaddafi and his family find different ways to be “resolved”. So Nelly Furtado on Twitter announced that it has received million dollars from “Gaddafi clan” four years ago to play in Italy and that she plans to donate the money. It is not known exactly to whom Nelly will give money, but it is assumed that the proceeds go to charity. “In 2007th year I have received million dollars from Gaddafi clan for 45-minute performance for the hotel guests in Italy. I’ll donate the money,” she wrote on her Twitter profile.

It is expected that similar reactions of other stars such as Mariah Carey, which received million dollars from Gaddafi son to perform four songs on New Year’s Eve in St. Barts. Beyonce has also performed for one of Gaddafi sons for the New Year 2010 in St. Barts, but it is not known how much she was paid. With her on the same concert performed Usher, also for an unknown amount.

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Beyonce Donates Gaddafi Cash to Charity

BEYONCE DONATES GADDAFI CASH TO CHARITY
Beyonce Knowles donated the money she earned performing for Libya's Colonel Gaddafi to charity.

The singer-and-actress gave a private performance for members of the dictator's family on New Year's Eve 2009, but instead of keeping the cash for herself she gave it all away to Haiti, following the devastating earthquake that ravaged the Caribbean nation in early 2010.

Her publicist said: "All monies paid to Beyonce for her performance at a private party at Nikki Beach St. Barts on New Year's Eve 2009, including the commissions paid to her booking agency, were donated to the earthquake relief efforts for Haiti over a year ago."

"Once it became known that the third party promoter was linked to the Qaddafi family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause."

Colonel Gaddafi - who has been linked to terrorist activity and accused of running a brutal regime over his people for 40 years - has been asked to step down by leaders of the western world following a violent revolt in the Middle Eastern country, but has refused, even denying there is unrest in the state.

Earlier this week, Nelly Furtado revealed she is to donate the $1 million she earned performing for Gaddafi's family in 2007.

The "Powerless (Say What You Want)" singer 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 $ (sic)."

View the original article here

Read more...