Beyoncé has no plans to donate the money she received at a private concert for Muammar Gaddafi's family, she said yesterday, because, er, she already has. The singer revealed that although she performed at a Gaddafi family New Year's Eve party in 2009, she gave the complete payment and all commissions to help support earthquake relief in Haiti.
Beyoncé has never before commented on the star-studded shindig, which took place on St Barts in the Caribbean. Jay-Z, Usher and Lindsay Lohan were all apparently in attendance, and Beyoncé was paid as much as $2m (£1.23m) for her set, footage of which can be seen on YouTube. The gig has come under particular scrutiny following this month's Libyan uprising and worldwide condemnation of the country's leader, Muammar Gaddafi. Canadian singer Nelly Furtado announced earlier this week that she will donate her $1m (£615,500) fee from a 2007 show for the Gaddafi family.
Speaking to the Associated Press, Beyoncé's publicist confirmed yesterday that the singer had donated her fee for the Gaddafi-hosted party. "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," Yvette Noel-Schure said. The fee was put toward humanitarian efforts in Haiti.
Documents from the US State department confirm stars including Mariah Carey, 50 Cent and Timbaland performed at private concerts organised by Mutassim Gaddafi, Muammar's son.
