Usher To Donate Gadhafi Money To Charity

'I will be donating all of my personal proceeds...to various human rights organizations,' singer says of concert linked to Libyan dictator.
By Shawn Adler


Usher (file)
Photo: Getty Images

R&B superstar Usher announced Friday (March 4) that he was donating to various charities proceeds from appearing at a private event at St. Barts linked to Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi, according to a statement made to the Associated Press.

The Grammy award winner's renouncement comes after similar announcements from singers Mariah Carey, Nelly Furtado, and Beyoncé, all of whom were revealed to have performed at private concerts linked to the Middle Eastern leader, who has faced open revolt and major political uprisings since February.

"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," Usher said of the concert, at which he appeared alongside Beyoncé but did not perform. "I will be donating all of my personal proceeds from that event to various human rights organizations."

Usher has already begun the process, having made a donation to Amnesty International, the AP reports. The exact size of the donation is not known.

The New Year's Eve gig was reportedly for Moammar's fourth son Muastassim, who an unnamed music industry source told MTV News has a history of throwing lavish parties "jammed" with supermodels.

Beyoncé, who sang at the event, donated all proceeds from her performance to the Clinton-Bush Haiti Fund, established in the wake of the Haitian earthquake.

"All monies paid to Beyoncé for her performance at a private party at Nikki Beach St. Barts on New Year's Eve 2009, including the commissions paid to her booking agency, were donated to the earthquake relief efforts for Haiti over a year ago," the "Halo" singer's publicist said in a statement to The Huffington Post. "Once it became known that the third-party promoter was linked to the Qaddafi family, the decision was made to put that payment to a good cause."

Singer Nelly Furtado tweeted February 28 that she plans to make similar amends.

"In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Gadhafi clan to perform a 45 min. show for guests at a hotel in Italy," she tweeted. "I am going to donate the $."

The leader of Libya since a successful military coup in 1969, Gadhafi has reportedly lost control of much of his country as a result of widespread uprisings. The United Nations voted unanimously to refer the dictator to the International Criminal Court for crimes against humanity.

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1659301/usher-donate-gadhafi-money-charity.jhtml

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Cheryl Cole Asks For "X Factor" Dismissal Explanation

Having headed back to Britain after being dismissed as an "X Factor" U.S. judge, Cheryl Cole was reportedly secluded in a secret location while speaking about her firing for the first time.

According to The Mirror, the former Girls Aloud singer was even pondering an exit from the UK version of the show - as she's been given an ultimatum by ITV bosses in regards to getting back to the her duties on the popular music competition show.

The Mirror report goes on to tell that Miss Cole opened up to a friend while asking, ?Why did Simon Cowell do this to me??

Cheryl is also said to be at a loss as to why the U.S. "X Factor" dismissal took place, saying, ?I still haven?t been given a reason."

As for the ultimatum in regards to her UK TV duties, Simon is said to have chastised Cheryl about her ruing over the failed go in the States.

Cowell reportedly told her, ?Do you want ­another job on more money? It?s a simple question: Yes or No?"

An ITV insider added, "She?s been told to grow up and pick yourself up or you?ll lose the British show too. It?s tough, but we start filming the UK program on Wednesday. No one is bigger than the show, that?s what she has to realize. If ­Cheryl doesn?t want to do it we?ll just go on without her. It?s very worrying that she?s ­refusing to engage with us. We need a dialogue but she won?t answer the phone. Cheryl needs to call us. She needs to call home.?

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/cheryl-cole/cheryl-cole-asks-x-factor-dismissal-explanation-509774

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Justin Bieber & Selena Gomez's Beach Hookup Video

Dominating headlines with their beachfront frolicking photos a few days ago, Justin Bieber and Selena Gomez's Hawaiian romp can now be seen even more in-depth upon the release of video documenting the loved-up outing.

The "Never Say Never" star and his "Monte Carlo" cutie were the picture of young love as they shared plenty of smooches while venturing about the tropical Maui locale.

During the course of the day, Justin and Selena shared a walk through the lush tropical gardens at the Hyatt Regency Ka'anapali.

The two lovebirds also were spotted jet skiing and parasailing earlier in the day, while Bieber later took Gomez to Lahaina for a little shopping and dining along the Historic Front Street.

Source: http://celebrity-gossip.net/justin-bieber/justin-bieber-selena-gomezs-beach-hookup-video-509876

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Chelsea Kane & Kirstie Alley Stop By ?Live With Regis And Kelly? in NYC

Dancing With The Stars finalists, Kirstie Alley and Chelsea Kane and their partners, Mark Ballas and Maksim Chmerkovskiy stopped by ABC’s Live With Regis and Kelly yesterday morning to chat about their journey on the show and being in the finals. Champs Hines Ward and his partner, Kym Johnson stopped by the show earlier in [...]

Source: http://www.okmagazine.com/2011/05/chelsea-kane-kirstie-alley-stop-by-live-with-regis-and-kelly-in-nyc/

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Beyonce's 'Till The End Of Time' Hits The Internet

Song is rumored to be next single off the pop singer's new album, 4.
By James Dinh


Beyonce
Photo: Getty

Days after the premiere of the postapocalyptic dance clip for "Run the World (Girls)," Beyoncé fans are now being treated to the recently leaked tune "Till the End of Time." Rumored to be the next single off Beyoncé's new album, 4, which hits stores on June 28, the uptempo track has the pop powerhouse professing her everlasting love.

"Till the End of Time" begins with spitfire drums as Bey's muffled lyric line loops over and over again until a dramatic explosion. "Come take my hand/ I won't let you go/ I'll be your friend/ I will love you so deeply/ I will be the one to kiss you at night/ I will love you till the end of time," she sings atop an airy buildup.

Mrs. Carter continues her appeal, convincing her lover that she is the one who'll be there at the end of every night and, as the song goes, "till the end of time." The song, reminiscent of an older Destiny's Child cut, has Beyoncé keeping the energy level high with marching band-esque drums. Bey also belts over the bridge's horn sequence.

No confirmation yet from Beyoncé's camp as to whether the track will appear on the singer's new LP. The recipient of Billboard's Millennium Award recently revealed that she recorded "more than 60 songs" for the new project, which includes the LP's lead single, "Run the World (Girls)."

MTV News caught up with Bey's longtime choreographer, Frank Gatson Jr., who gave us the scoop on her team's inspiration for the Francis Lawrence-directed video for "Run the World."

"We prepared a lot for it. We had seen something on YouTube; we had seen these three guys from Africa, this Mozambique African dance troupe. ... We were like, 'Wow, this is an amazing movement,' " he said. "And that movement has always been in the back of our heads for the last year. From there, we talked about a lot of concepts."

What do you think of "Till the End of Time"? Share your reviews below!

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Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664399/beyonce-till-the-end-of-time.jhtml

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Beyonce's 'Till The End Of Time' Hits The Internet

Song is rumored to be next single off the pop singer's new album, 4.
By James Dinh


Beyonce
Photo: Getty

Days after the premiere of the postapocalyptic dance clip for "Run the World (Girls)," Beyoncé fans are now being treated to the recently leaked tune "Till the End of Time." Rumored to be the next single off Beyoncé's new album, 4, which hits stores on June 28, the uptempo track has the pop powerhouse professing her everlasting love.

"Till the End of Time" begins with spitfire drums as Bey's muffled lyric line loops over and over again until a dramatic explosion. "Come take my hand/ I won't let you go/ I'll be your friend/ I will love you so deeply/ I will be the one to kiss you at night/ I will love you till the end of time," she sings atop an airy buildup.

Mrs. Carter continues her appeal, convincing her lover that she is the one who'll be there at the end of every night and, as the song goes, "till the end of time." The song, reminiscent of an older Destiny's Child cut, has Beyoncé keeping the energy level high with marching band-esque drums. Bey also belts over the bridge's horn sequence.

No confirmation yet from Beyoncé's camp as to whether the track will appear on the singer's new LP. The recipient of Billboard's Millennium Award recently revealed that she recorded "more than 60 songs" for the new project, which includes the LP's lead single, "Run the World (Girls)."

MTV News caught up with Bey's longtime choreographer, Frank Gatson Jr., who gave us the scoop on her team's inspiration for the Francis Lawrence-directed video for "Run the World."

"We prepared a lot for it. We had seen something on YouTube; we had seen these three guys from Africa, this Mozambique African dance troupe. ... We were like, 'Wow, this is an amazing movement,' " he said. "And that movement has always been in the back of our heads for the last year. From there, we talked about a lot of concepts."

What do you think of "Till the End of Time"? Share your reviews below!

Related Artists

Source: http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1664399/beyonce-till-the-end-of-time.jhtml

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