Celebs for Gadaffi
How I missed this, I don’t know: Lionel Richie gave a performance for Gaddafi to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the US raid on the dictator’s compound. Apparently he’s quite popular with Arab people. As well as the American military: Richie’s hagiographic wikipedia bio says:
Lionel Richie has amassed quite a cult following within the US Military. One Company of Army Aviators from MN and IA that are currently deployed to the middle eastern theater of operations have embraced Mr. Richie's goodwill towards the middle east and have named him as their mascot. Keeping with Mr. Richie's music, their motto is "All Night Long". The website www.whereslionel.com is how they communicate their reverence and respect for Lionel Richie.
But he’s not the only one of our celebrity betters to take a buck from Mo & Co.:
Beyonce Knowles gave at a private concert on New Year's Eve for a son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi, according to reports, performing five songs at a club on the Caribbean island of St Barts.
The event featuring the R&B star seems to have been hosted by Motassim Bilal Gaddafi, known as Hannibal. The rumoured fee for Beyoncé's hour-long warble: $2m. Usher also took the stage, with Jon Bon Jovi, Lindsay Lohan, Russell Simmons and models Miranda Kerr and Victoria Silvstedt in the crowd.
Good thing they have agents and managers to steer them away from Tea Party appearances; that sort of thing could stop a career cold.
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Feb '11
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
Michael Totten has a lengthy article on the "Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya" on Pajamas Media. The url is:
http://pajamasmedia.com/michaeltotten/
2011/02/20/
in-the-land-of-the-brother-leader-2/
(paste the parts together or just go to pajamasmedia.com)
Perhaps Mr Richie and his celeb friends should spend a year or two in Brother Leader's paradise. I'm sure Ms Lohan would fit right in.
Edited on Feb 21, 2011 at 5:57pmJul '10
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
Alright, alright. Gaddafi is not a nice man.
But I'm gonna miss his headgear. Guy has awesome taste in hats.
Jun '10
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
Celebrities make big bucks for these types of appearances. They do it all over the world. They have an especially big clientele in Russia. Jennifer Lopez made $1.4 million for showing up at an oligarch's birthday. I'm sure Sean Penn gets treated nicely in Venezuela. Gee, I wonder why they defend these guys so much?
May '10
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
Good thing those celebs aren't greedy like the rest of us knuckle-draggers. Otherwise the socialist dictators would have to take more bread out of their captives mouths to pay for the entertainment.
Will current events inspire the celebrity press to become interested in the star's Libyan showcase? Or is it simply bad taste to ask?
Jun '10
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
Reminds me when Sting performed in a private concert for the daughter of Uzbekistan's dictator:
"Rocker STING has been urged to donate concert cash he received after performing for the daughter of Uzbek dictator President Islam Karimov to charity by critics opposed to the private show.
The former The Police star, an avid human rights campaigner and environmental activist, has come under fire for playing the secret gig in Tashkent in November (09). Protesters claim Sting should have rejected the offer to sing for Gulnara Karimova, whose father rules a country with one of the world's worst records for human rights abuses."
Perhaps they need to watch Pinocchio again...
The Blue Fairy: You must learn to choose between right and wrong.
Pinocchio: Right and wrong? But how will I know?
Jiminy Cricket: [watching] How'll he know!
The Blue Fairy: [to Pinocchio] Your conscience will tell you.
Pinocchio: What are conscience?
Jiminy Cricket: What are conscience! I'll tell ya! A conscience is that still small voice that people won't listen to. That's just the trouble with the world today...
Sep '10
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
"...that sort of thing could stop a career cold."
Fortunately, Lindsay Lohan doesn't have to worry about that anymore.
Aug '10
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
Did you forget the iconic Jimi Hendrix concert for Mengele in Paraguay in 1967 ? Dude---- I think he got like 2k, a lb of coke, and an original copy of the NYT Duranty article.
Edited on Feb 21, 2011 at 7:42pmRush Limbaugh hires Elton John and Elton announces birth of first child couple months later ? Coincidence.....? Maybe not, spelling error ? ...Likely
Jan '11
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
Speaking of celebrity gigs, I once played for Queen Elizabeth II.
She wasn't there (I was just in my basement) but still, it was for her.
Aug '10
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
But what's the alternative, withholding celebrity appearances from foreign dictators?
You can't do that! It's a violation of their human rights! The NGOs will have a field day (if they can tear themselves away from condemning Israel).
May '10
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
So Bleatcast-worthy. Thing is, I was as disappointed as you're allowed to get with free, really good stuff when you dropped the Bleatcast for the renewed Diner format. But now you anchor (and let's not delude ourselves, *you* anchor, wonderful though Rob and Peter are) the Ricochet podcast I get all the fun we used to get with the best Bleatcasts (like when Tim Blair was visiting) just about every week. Ah, the joy!
Jul '10
Re: Celebs for Gadaffi
OT but I have to commend James on his Dennis Miller Radio Show appearance in which he acquitted himself with the usual aplomb. I had to wonder where Dennis has been that he only lately has discovered the national treasure that is Mr. Lileks.