Celebs And Charities: Of The Former Using The Latter To Plug Themselves

July 13, 2011

Adam Lovejoy writes from London: Yes, the joys of charity, the feeling that you are helping others in desperate need. Saving hungry children in Africa or earthquake victims in Haiti or making life of donkeys in Afghanistan that much easier…

But enough of this drivel. I’m a cynic and I always ask myself this: why is it that celebs are so quick to get themselves involved in charity events, preferably televised ones, like it happened recently with Children In Need? And why is it that so many familiar faces appear, time and time again, at those big charity gigs or on TV charity marathons? If they are so keen to help others, why can’t they just donate some money to a good cause without making a big fuss about it?

Charity should be discreet and even secret. And as direct as possible, without too many middle-men getting between the giver and the receiver. And if it comes to big charity concerts or high profile advertising campaigns or TV charity marathons all the celebs taking part should give it a hundred per cent and not pretend that they don’t understand the benefits they are getting from their appearances.

If I’d had it my way, I would limit the appearance of professional artists and performers in big charity events. And even ask them to donate money for taking part in them. Because if they’re so flipping kind and caring and responsive to other people’s problems then they wouldn’t mind sharing some of their wealth with other less fortunate people, now would they? It is all very fine for pop singers, actors and comedians to claim that they are generous enough to ‘work for nothing’, but how come it always turns out that their careers get a boost after they get involved in big charity events? You know, more albums bought, more offers of roles in films made and more tickets to gigs and more DVDs sold?

I especially hate it when some celebs, like TV news presenters, sit-com actors or second-rate comedians get it into their heads that they should unleash a charity single on the world. It would always be atrociously bad and amateurish but a lot of people would still buy it, of only out of misguided compassion.

Look, I have nothing against famous and not very famous celebrities helping charities. From time to time, that is. But when these people turn themselves into professional philanthropists it gets really distasteful and even offensive. If your income depends on the level of your public profile then you should avoid getting too much involved in high profile charity events. Or, if you do, you should at least accept that you are getting free publicity and work hard for it.

And throw in some money. And not shout about it.

– End –

Category: Let's Be Cynical · No Comments »
Tags: celebs, charity, TV maraphons