REPORT: Usher Donates Gadhafi Money to Amnesty International

This is major. Not only has Usher reportedly donated the substantial fee he received from Mutassim Gadhafi—the son of Col. Muammar Gadhafi and the Libyan national security adviser coordinating the bloody crackdown that has killed thousands—but he donated it to Amnesty International.

Usher said Friday he's "sincerely troubled" to learn he appeared at a concert in St. Bart's linked to Libyan leader Moammar Gadhafi's family and plans donate his concert fee to human rights organizations. Usher did not perform but was paid to appear at the private concert featuring Beyonce in 2009.

"I am sincerely troubled to learn about the circumstances surrounding the Nikki Beach St. Bart's event that took place on New Year's Eve 2009, " he said in a statement released to The Associated Press. "I will be donating all of my personal proceeds from that event to various human rights organizations."

The statement said Usher made a contribution Friday to Amnesty International, which the organization confirmed. The group said Usher requested the donation amount be private.

Earlier this week, Beyonce and Nelly Furtado renounced their performances at private concerts for the Gadhafi family. The Libyan leaders are responsible for the deaths of thousands of civilians in Libya, where entire cities and provinces are revolting against the dictatorship. The entertainers have promised to give their fees to charity or said they have already done so.

Gadhafi and his sons face investigation for war crimes.

And as for Mariah Carey?

Carey said she was unaware of whom she was performing for and "embarrassed." She announced she will donate royalties for the song "Save the Day," which she has written for her upcoming album, to charities that create awareness for human-rights issues.

You Should Read ...
Beyoncé Donated Gadhafi Millions to Haiti Relief
Furtado to Donate Gadhafi Money to Charity
WIKILEAKS: Beyonce, Usher, Mariah Performed for Gadhafi Son

Comments

[BJ]

GOOD! Thank you!

[Account Deleted]

Good news...I don't necessarily condemn any of these music artists but goodness, performing for war criminals?

....Now cue the folks that will tell us not to cast stones or make judgments on their actions because doing so we become no better than those who hate us.

:)

[Greg G]

It's about effin time.
So much for the stans who said this would never happen, their fave celebs didn't need to do this, we were "haters" etc etc.

You can't make anything happen if you don't speak up. And as black people, esp black gay men, we are taught not to speak up and to worship celebrity. Hell, most of us don't even come out of the closet and stay in abusive churches, "human rights" and ethics are exotic concepts to most in our communmity.

They did the right thing because people were speaking up ... and they did not want to become part of an war crimes trial.

And bravo to Rod and others who spoke up when it wasnt popular.

[johnosahon]

i understand where you are coming from, but frankly i am tired of it. This is a waste of time, why are we picking on celebrities doing concerts, when our government was doing business with Qaddafi at the same time these concerts were being held?

Are we going to return the oil we buy from Libya, after all the money we give them for oil is what he is using to KILL HIS PEOPLE?

[Greg G]

@ Johnosahon:

These weren't concerts they were private parties. And no one is 'picking on' your precious Beyonce or Usher ... who do nothing for our community and donated the blood money from Gadafi.

There have been only 3 or 4 posts about it on this blog. If you are so tired of it, DON'T LEAVE A COMMENT. Why don't you comment on the new young gay NAACP leader, Trump trying to take our rights away or any of hundreds of other posts I have never seen your name in?

[thegayte-keeper]

Uh~huh...