I watched the Hope for Haiti Now telethon on Friday night, and I was very impressed with George Clooney and his organizational skills. It was a subdued, respectful event with the appropriate mix of star power and focus on the issues. The telethon ended up making $57 million – and people can still donate now, and for the next six months. My favorite performances were John Legend (I love that man), Mary J. Blige and the Jay-Z/Bono/Rihanna performance from London. I loved seeing Robert “Sparkles” Pattinson (I swooned!), Jon Stewart and President Clinton. Here are more details about the night:
The victims of Haiti’s devastating earthquake are getting a major, major leg up from Hollywood and the general public worldwide.
By Saturday evening, Friday’s all-star “Hope for Haiti Now: A Global Benefit for Earthquake Relief” telethon has raised more than $57 million!
That sets a new record for donations made by the public through a disaster relief telethon — and the money keeps coming in from around the world. The impressive preliminary figures account for donations made via phone, online and mobile; iTunes sales and large corporate donations are still being tallied.
More good news: the Hope for Haiti Now album, with telethon tracks recorded live by Madonna, Mary J. Blige, Sting, Bono, Rihanna, Shakira, Bruce Springsteen and many more, is the biggest one-day album pre-order in iTunes history.
Friday’s broadcast of “Hope for Haiti Now” featured hundreds of stars in film, TV and music performing, asking for donations on the air and manning the phones: George Clooney (who led the L.A. portion of the telethon), Wyclef Jean (the leader in NYC), Jennifer Hudson, Alicia Keys, Christina Aguilera, Dave Matthews, John Legend, Justin Timberlake, Stevie Wonder, Taylor Swift, Keith Urban, Kid Rock, Sheryl Crow, Coldplay, Jay-Z, President Bill Clinton, Ben Stiller, Brad Pitt, Chris Rock, Clint Eastwood, Denzel Washington, Halle Berry, Jon Stewart, Julia Roberts, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon, Meryl Streep, Morgan Freeman, Nicole Kidman, Robert Pattinson, Samuel L. Jackson and Tom Hanks.
“Hope for Haiti Now” will continue accepting donations for the next six months. Here’s how to give:
-Visit www.hopeforhaitinow.org
-Call 877-99-HAITI
Text “GIVE” to 50555
Mail: Hope For Haiti Now Fund, Entertainment Industry Foundation, 1201 West 5th Street, Suite T-700, Los Angeles, CA 90017
[From Us Weekly]
In a more gossipy slant, it seems like the telethon was an excuse for some exes to stage a “reunion”. Of course, there’s only photo evidence of one of these “reunions”. Boo! Oh, wait, it was still juicy. It seems that exes Cameron Diaz and Justin Timberlake actually spoke to each other and acted like mature adults at the telethon, and were even photographed looking very flirty together. Cameron’s got her hand on his chest… hmm (photos here). First Cameron and then Kate Hudson at the SAGs? I bet Jessica Biel is close to an aneurysm. In addition to that “reunion” it seems that Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston were also in the same place at the same time. Sort of. They were probably within 50 feet of each other, but it seems by all accounts like they didn’t even speak to each other. Oh, well!
gerry and aniston looks really good together
Look good together? Um, she looks bored to shitts and he’s looking around for the next boobies to squeeze.
And d*mn that “forest of yuck” on Brad’s chin!!
Apperently, Brad spent the whole time trying to avoid a pictures with Jennifer Aniston. HA HA HA SERVES HIM RIGHT.
Cameron Diaz should find some NYC Banker and leave little boys alone…or she should give it one more try and She should date Ryan Gosling.
Jen is not dating Gerard but I would suggest the above for her to… either date Jake G, Ryan Gosling(he loves the older ladies and he is romantic, great kisser, damn sexy, great body) or she should find a NYC Banker or maybe some Technology CEO or President.
Does anyone know why Sandra Bullock never dated Keanu? Why doesn’t Sandra Bullock have her own Biological children. I just realised that she is 45yrs. I thought she was 40, although she looks 30something. She is in great shape.
What in the name of Pete did Madonna do to her face??? UGH I swear I used to worship her…
I thought that Justin Timberlake and Charlie Sexton did amazing and I also thought that Sheryl Crow, Kid Rock and Keith Urban did great!!!!
and thank you celebitchy for not turning this telethon in to pitt and aniston reunion like so many other gossip site tried to do
What about john stamos for jenny, they both have great hair
Jen was merely trying to avoid the billy goat’s gruff attached to Brad’s face.
Also. I like Cameron Diaz better than Jessica Biel. There. I said it.
@Rory: why do all celebs have to marry a banker or a ceo? do they have to be paired with someone who’s rich aswell? that’s dumb, you don’t even know them yet you’re suggesting who they’d be compatible with..
Sad images were being broadcast so Jen couldn’t look happy all the time. She does look young and gorgeous.
Ultra philanthropist Angiejo missed, I guess she did not want to be clustered with every one. The spotlight has to be trained on her. I wonder why Brad and Jen avoided each other, I hope they do not get back together, but I do hope they become friends and hang together so that Jolie self combusts.
I liked all the performances of the night. Love the song that Justin sang.
Loved Justin Timberlake’s performance, and I’m not always a fan of his music.
The telethon was good, hope it continues to raise a lot and that the money is well spent and helpful.
All I can say is thank GOD Jen and Brad weren’t photographed together, because that would be the cover of every tabloid for a year.
I was very impressed with George Clooney and his (clout) putting together such a respectful event with so many stars involved in such a short time. Well done.
My only concern is the list of charities where this money will go. One of them, (per the website) is Wyclef Jean’s charity and whether he is or isn’t guilty of mishandling his charity, just being accused of doing so is enough to worry me.
Regardless though, I thought his performance — and Timberlake’s which surprised me, I’m not a fan of his but he wowed me with that song — were the best of the night. I’m glad they ended with an upbeat number after all that somber music.
I’m surprised that Angelina Jolie didn’t participate, especially since Brad was there to help by supporting both the cause and his friend Clooney. She’s seems very conspicuous in her absence. I would have thought she would have been front and center for an event like this. Perhaps she has a problem with the fact that Clooney was the motivating force behind such a combined effort.
It was a wonderful show. I truly enjoyed all of the performances. There was not one performance that wasn’t wonderful and heartfelt. But poor Madonna, her song was incredible and I loved the back-up choir. But her cheeks — I wish she would take out the implants. She is such a gorgeous woman and she’d do better just to age gracefully a la Lauren Hutton.
I love seeing Cammie D and Justin chatting! The behind the scenes and candid pictures from the event are really cool. And I think that there is no way that either Brad or Jen would have been photographed together! That would have taken the focus off Haiti and onto themselves. But where was Angelina? Since she is the Saint of Philanthropy I cannot believe she’d miss it. Strange. Also weird that Brad is winning all these awards and isn’t showing up.
St. Angie was too busy being photograph for the August issue of Vanity Fair according to people magazine
Saint Angelina doesn’t share the philantropist limelight.
She needs to be the centre of attention.
it was a really good event, at first i thought people’s egos were all i was gonna see on the screen but i was pleasantly surprised. it seemed very heartfelt, on everyone’s part.
john legend’s performance was brilllllliant. the best of the night.
jay-z/bono/rihanna were also really good, my second fave.
The real question is; if it had been Angelina to organize such a telethon, would there have been even half the turnout that there was for George? He seems to be very ‘what you see if what you get’ and even if he does have an alternative lifestyle, he doesn’t seem to have an enemies in Hollywood, only friends.
Um, no offense Phowie, but who exactly are Angelina’s enemies, besides Jennifer and Billy Bob’s ex. Most of the A-list in Hollywood that have gone on record speaking about her always praised her philanthropic works and complemented her as a person they know as well as her acting. If you know anyone beside the one the tabloids shot out of their own asses, please post for me, thanks.
Wow. Nice that people use a post about the Haiti telethon to bash Angelina. She wasn’t even at the telethon but still folks have their knives out.
I thought it was a lovely program. Alicia Keys gave a good opening performance. Jay Z, Bono, and Rihanna’s song was awesome. Wycelf’s performance closed the show well with a performance that was sad and uplifting.
Jennifer Hudson gave the best performance of the night! Her voice during “Let It Be” was stirring. I listened to it online a few times over the weekend!
I really enjoyed most of the performances, except Madonna’s. The song seemed inappropriate, or maybe it was just the way she sang it. Everyone else was fairly subdued and sang songs that weren’t their own, apart from a couple of them. Even Beyonce sang a stripped down and a little reworded Halo.
John Legend was amazing; I liked the Sheryl Crow/Kid Rock/Keith Urban song too. For some reason, I wasn’t that impressed with Sting.
Madonna’s flailing around looked stupid and she really has done something bad to her face.
So Brad was there and Jennifer didn’t dress for REVENGE!??!?!? There is something fishy going on….obviously.
Sorry, just had to make fun of that lame magazine cover.
I’m really excited because we are having a bake sale. I know it won’t be much but our company is matching whatever money we make and we are going to donate it to Doctors without Borders!!!
Ana-cool that you are supporting Drs Without Borders – it is a wonderful organization.
George Clooney seems like a genuinely caring person – it was fantastic that he put this together. He was also involved with the 9/11 and tsunami telethons.
truthsf: Angelina’s enemies include Ryan Seacrest and Rachael Ray; who dissed her in an attempt to show support for poor pitiful Jen.
no matter how many A list stars are there, people are still looking for angelina. angie need not to be there actually, shes been involved with haiti already even before and after the camera rolled.
Justin Timberlake blew my mind and I’m generally not a fan of his music.
I just want to say, way to go, everyone!~That’s alot of dough.
ugh brad needs to shave his beard :S
BRAD PITT, ALONE, WITHOUT THE DARKWOMAN !!!
Thank you Cadiebelle!!!
I’m so glad this happened and celebrities actually did something that raised a ton of money; let’s hope it goes to the right place and doesn’t “disappear” like quite a bit of money that “goes to charity”.
Anyway, Angelina was conspicuous in her absence. Even the people who idolize her have to admit that it was weird that she wasn’t there. She’s the most visible celebrity philanthropist. Why wouldn’t she be at the most visible celebrity philanthropic event for the one of the worst tragedies resulting from a natural disaster?
@truthSF
Actually, my comment was that Clooney didn’t seem to have an enemies. As for Angelina Jolie, I really couldn’t say. I guess if she tried to organize this type of relief effort we’ll find out. $57 million is quite a lot of money to raise on the spur of the moment. Any truly altruistic humanitarian with such a vast network of admirers such as she could surely organize something like this in a snap and raise double the amount, no?
Angelina would have only showed up if SHE was the focal point of the entire thing. That is what she does. George wasn’t having it.
Amen. And can you imagine how much more money they would have raised if Brad had offered to shave off his beard live if donations hit a certain level?