Rosie O’Donnell doesn’t hesitate to speak her mind. If you didn’t know that before her year on ‘The View,’ then you certainly knew afterwards. She isn’t holding back now, urging celebs to make sure they donate their own money as they ask others to donate.
“It’s like, if you’re gonna go on and you’re a millionaire, please give a million dollars. Like, there should be a cover charge to do those, in my opinion,” she said of star’s on telethons. “I think everyone should do what they can and if a celebrity can bring attention to a cause or inspire someone to give…
“I think celebrities should step up and America should stop asking for just their presence at a publicized event,” Rosie added. “They should also demand their money.”
“Demand” seems like a strong word, but Rosie does have a point. If multi-millionaire celebs participate in a telethon that raises $500,000, that’s fantastic, but if each celeb could actually afford to write a check for $1 million apiece…
Rosie did praise Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie.
“I know that Brad and Angelina gave a million dollars to [help out in Haiti] as well as all they’ve done in New Orleans,” she added.
We know Brad and Angelina haven’t been the only celebs to donate money: Gisele Bundchen donated $1.5 million of her own money, among others.
Do you think Rosie has a point or should we just be glad celebs are willing to at least speak out and bring attention to the crisis?
Photos by Wenn.com
In times like these where the average person is having a hard time making ends meet, it seems unfair to put more burden on them by asking them to fork over money they can’t afford to give no matter what the cause, no matter how desperate the country. There are many many many celebrities that get paid huge fees for appearing at a night club or for doing nothing more than looking like an idiot at a public event. Take those fees, save the public from having to look at Paris Hilton’s or Speidi’s faces one more time and donate it to the Red Cross.
I’m willing to bet that she donated a LOT – she just won’t brag about it.
True true, but then who would we laugh at???
LOL so true. Did Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie donate a million between the two of them or a million a piece? If it was between the two of them it doesnt seem like much considereing they make millions a year. It’s nice of Gisele to donate so much.
Strange, that Rosie has not mentioned what she GAVE!!! She does this everytime there is a diaster!!! Shut up Rosie!
Good point!
Yes they did earn their money, the worked for it etc. Just like we do, but the average American is expected to hand over their hard earned money to donate in times of need and otherwise. So why shouldn’t the same expectation be there for a celebrity. They can afford to donate quite a bit more and they could make a huge difference. I am not saying they have to donate a million dollars to every charity, but they can afford to give larger sums of money than the average American.
The one thing that she said years and years ago that has stuck with me was that there is a reason that certain people are always on the top of those “most wealthy” lists…because they aren’t giving enough of it away.
I think Rosie was trying to say, a lot of celebs go on these shows to raise money and their profile. It gives them good promotion.
These celebs have so much money, but yet they are asking people, who earn of fraction of what they have, to donate. How can a celeb ask you to part with your money, if they themselves can’t do the same.
The money that celebs make is not the American people’s money anymore. We paid them for doing those movies and they EARNED that money on their own. They have a right to do with it as they want. Yeah, I want people to donate to Hatti, but it’s still a free country and people have the right to handle their own finances without Rosie demanding what they do.
Well said
So true. Rosie is so obnoxiously sanctimonious. She should donate herself and keep her trap shut.
Do celebrity millionaires care about her opinion?
Ummm…yes. They make millions and get tons of free stuff.
i don’t think she’s drafting a bill for congress, she’s strongly suggesting…she has a right to her opinion too
you people are so dumb sometimes
Us ‘dumb’ people also have a right to our opinion …
While Haiti needs it, so do people in the US. I’m just sick of helping others all the time and ignoring our own.
under other circumstances you might be right. but Haiti needs it right now and their situation is very heartbreaking. In the US there’s nothing that needs it as bad as the our brothers in Haiti.
I think she has a really good point, and it’s not just about Haiti. We see celebs fairly often promoting one charity/cause or another and it’s very rare you see them donate their own money to the cause too.
I work for a charity and this is the kind of thing I see often.. “Sure, I’ll donate you a few hours of my time to promote for you, but gosh, don’t actually ask ME for money”.
If they don’t want to give up their cash, that’s fine – people are free to spend their money how they want it. But don’t think that making a PSA or an appearance at a fundraiser makes up for it.
(I feel I should note that this is totally separate from people who simply can’t afford to. We’re talking strictly people with more than enough money to donate.)
I believe everyone has to do what is right in their mind and their conscious.
she seem to suggest that the american people are mindless and clueless and we don’t know what to do so we have to look up to celebrities for answers. she seriously needs to STFU. is this a competition? so sick and tired of celebrities bragging how much they donated like they’re so much better than us. beside, a million dollars is pocket change to them.
it kills me. it really does. I agree with American’s comment. I am not saying people shouldnt donate to Haiti- I am all for it. I am sad bc our country is literally a mess. The recession is not over. No matter what any political figure says. The average american person has been completely ignored and left to struggle and fight to survive. No other country comes to our aid. Haiti will take attention away from our own tragedy here.
you cannot compare the two: one is the richest country in this continent, the other is the poorest. YEs there’s a recession, but u have a government who’s actively acting (plz no comments about the way they are acting, this is a different conversation), and has means to do so. You have hospitals, roads, schools, churches.
In Haiti, almost every government building is gone, schools are gone, hospitals are gone, water reservoirs are gone… do you get the point now? And that from a country where 80% of ppl live on les than $1 day. That doesn’t happen here, there’s welfare and homeless shelters, none of that exists over there.
well said andy!
completely agree. Our poorest communities are still lightyears ahead of the game compared to Haiti and many, many other places.