UDPATE: Carey 'embarrassed' over Gadhafi-linked concert

The impending fall of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi has brought to light the massive sums his family has paid stars to perform for him. Nelly Furtado just tweeted that she intends to give back the $1 million she earned for a 45-minute performance for the Gadhafi clan by donating this sum to charity -- and other stars might soon do the same. Furtado's announcement comes simultaneously with a call from music industry leaders for more stars -- including Beyonce, Usher, Mariah Carey and 50 Cent -- to give up their dirty Gadhafi cash. MSN music news reports:

Beyoncé, Mariah Carey, Usher and 50 Cent are facing industry calls to give back the money they earned performing at lavish parties thrown by family members of Libyan dictator Moammar Gadhafi.

"If it were me, it would go to charity," says Buck Williams, agent for R.E.M. and Widespread Panic. Adds David T. Viecelli, agent for Arcade Fire, "Hopefully donate it to a charity that somehow assists some of the people who have suffered at the hands of that regime."

Carey accepted $1 million to perform for Gadhafi's son, Muatassim, Libya's national-security adviser, at a lavish New Year's Eve party on the Caribbean island of St. Barts in 2008; Beyoncé and Usher performed for an undisclosed sum on the island the following year. 50 Cent gave a performance before Muatassim at a 2005 film festival in Venice.

Managers for Usher, 50 Cent and Carey declined comment, and Beyoncé's management, run by her father, Mathew Knowles, did not return phone calls.

Read the rest on MSN.com, and then decide for yourself. Should these black stars follow Nelly Furtado's example and give back the millions they earned performing for the Gadhafi family through charitable giving? Morally, it does seem like the only option.


These stars are so blessed, and have received so much legitimately from their fans, they really don't need to take this easy money for the sake of a quick buck. They have to decide what is more important: their brand and their legacy or a million dollars? It all boils down to how much these African American celebrities think it is worth to do the right thing.

In addition to funding terrorism, Gadhafi and his family are guilty on another horrible count. It is highly likely that the wealth than enables them to command black superstars to perform at will was generated by manipulating the resources of their nation for their own benefit. Just like the financial crimes of Mubarak against his own people, the wholesale theft of wealth from the state by Gadhafi is so underhanded that it fouls not only any remuneration he bestows -- it also ruins the reputation of the receiver.

Usher, Mariah and Beyonce were probably making a shaky business move by accepting Gadhafi's money in the first place. Now that they have an opportunity to make up for it while maintaining the good will of the public and their industry peers, they should follow Nelly Furtado's lead. Giving that money to a charity that could compensate for this dictator's crimes will keep these black stars in the public's good graces, because it's ethically correct. As role models and black business icons, they need to make the right decision as both a branding and moral requirement.