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Do gooder done bad: top five celebrity blunders Do gooder done bad: top five celebrity blunders
(7 months later)
When, after eight years of blissful union, Hollywood starlet Scarlett Johansson announced that she was parting ways with Oxfam, we asked our community to tell us what other partnerships have generated bad press.When, after eight years of blissful union, Hollywood starlet Scarlett Johansson announced that she was parting ways with Oxfam, we asked our community to tell us what other partnerships have generated bad press.
And from the five (rather cringeworthy) examples that came back, the lesson seems clear: as in all relationships, those between celebrity And from the five (rather cringeworthy) examples that came back, the lesson seems clear: as in all relationships, those between celebrity and development organisations work best when both parties take the time to get to know each other. However, when one turns out to be not what the other expected, a seemingly good match can quickly turn sour.
and development organisations work best when both parties take the time to get to know each
other. However, when one turns out to be not what the other expected, a seemingly good match can quickly turn sour.
Elizabeth McGovern and World VisionElizabeth McGovern and World Vision
Several of our community brought to our attention Elizabeth McGovern’s (aka Downton Abbey’s Lady Cora) recent visit to Sierra Leone with World Vision.Several of our community brought to our attention Elizabeth McGovern’s (aka Downton Abbey’s Lady Cora) recent visit to Sierra Leone with World Vision.
According to The Telegraph's Jake Wallis Simons, McGovern didn’t realise that World Vision – who paid for her band, Sadie and the Hotheads, to record their album – is a Christian According to The Telegraph's Jake Wallis Simons, McGovern didn’t realise that World Vision – who paid for her band, Sadie and the Hotheads, to record their album – is a Christian organisation, which suggests she hadn't bothered to visit its website. McGovern is quoted as saying the trip was "like a holiday" but later adding: "It is the right time for me in my life to channel my energies into reaching out and helping, and this is the way it’s come about for me.”
organisation, which suggests she hadn't bothered to visit its website. McGovern is quoted as saying the trip was "like a holiday" but later adding: "It is the right time for me in my life to channel my energies into reaching out and helping, and this is the way it’s come about for me.”
Christina Aguilera and World Food ProgrammeChristina Aguilera and World Food Programme
Another person who has been overcome by the urge to reach out is singer Christina Aguilera who, after a trip to Rwanda with the World Food Programme, told US gossip magazine People: “This trip came at a time when I really needed to step away and Another person who has been overcome by the urge to reach out is singer Christina Aguilera who, after a trip to Rwanda with the World Food Programme, told US gossip magazine People: “This trip came at a time when I really needed to step away and connect with bigger issues in the world, [and] this trip really touched me in a way I never felt before".
connect with bigger issues in the world, [and] this trip really touched
me in a way I never felt before".
Blogger Natacha Nsabimana captured the exasperation of many when she wrote: “Africa. Helping westerners who're a wee bit down-in-the-dumps feel better about themselves since 1884”.Blogger Natacha Nsabimana captured the exasperation of many when she wrote: “Africa. Helping westerners who're a wee bit down-in-the-dumps feel better about themselves since 1884”.
And the media attention continued – all because of Aguilera's rendition of Twinkle, Twinke Little Star, of course. Here's What's Up Africa's satirical news bulletin:And the media attention continued – all because of Aguilera's rendition of Twinkle, Twinke Little Star, of course. Here's What's Up Africa's satirical news bulletin:
Geri Halliwell and UN Population FundGeri Halliwell and UN Population Fund
“When “When Geri left the Spice Girls and wanted to reinvent herself as a 'serious’ celebrity, she put on a pencil skirt, put a scarf round her neck and went to the UN,” said PR agency director Lauren Lunn-Farrow. “I’m not saying she didn’t care about everything she was representing, but you could tell that she hadn’t done enough research. In my view, doing something like that is career suicide.”
Geri left the Spice Girls and wanted to reinvent herself as a 'serious’
celebrity, she put on a pencil skirt, put a scarf round her neck and
went to the UN,” said PR agency director Lauren Lunn-Farrow.
“I’m not saying she didn’t care about everything she was representing,
but you could tell that she hadn’t done enough research. In my view,
doing something like that is career suicide.”
And so it was on a trip to Nepal in 2009 Halliwell donned an aquamarie sari with a matching, off-centre bindi (cultural appropriation or appreciation, you decide) and kissed the PM hello (not quite the traditional greeting). The encounter prompted Guardian columnist, Marina Hyde, to mark it as the start of society's decent into distopia.And so it was on a trip to Nepal in 2009 Halliwell donned an aquamarie sari with a matching, off-centre bindi (cultural appropriation or appreciation, you decide) and kissed the PM hello (not quite the traditional greeting). The encounter prompted Guardian columnist, Marina Hyde, to mark it as the start of society's decent into distopia.
Harry Belafonte and UnicefHarry Belafonte and Unicef
In 2006 Unicef In 2006 Unicef had to quickly distance itself from The Banana Boat Song (Day-O) singer, Harry Belafonte, when he called president George W Bush a “tyrant” and “the greatest terrorist in the world” in a televised address. The NGO said he was speaking as a private citizen and not as a goodwill ambassador – a fine lesson is damage control.
had to quickly distance itself from The Banana Boat Song (Day-O)
singer, Harry Belafonte, when he called president George W Bush a “tyrant”
and “the greatest terrorist in the world” in a televised address. The NGO said he was speaking as a private citizen and not as a goodwill ambassador – a fine lesson is damage control.
Kim Kardashian and the Diamond Empowerment FundKim Kardashian and the Diamond Empowerment Fund
Last but not least is Kim Kardashian. Not know for straying far below the surface of superficiality, in 2009 Kim set out to prove the world wrong a fact-finding mission to Botswana. Her objective: to find out the truth about the sparkly stones she likes to wear.Last but not least is Kim Kardashian. Not know for straying far below the surface of superficiality, in 2009 Kim set out to prove the world wrong a fact-finding mission to Botswana. Her objective: to find out the truth about the sparkly stones she likes to wear.
“I used to assume after watching the movie Blood Diamonds “I used to assume after watching the movie Blood Diamonds that diamonds were not acceptable to buy from Africa,” Kardashian wrote on her blog. “However, it is the complete opposite! When diamonds are purchased, the whole country can survive! In Botswana there used to be 10 schools but the diamond industry has now funded 300 schools!”
that diamonds were not acceptable to buy from Africa,” Kardashian wrote on her blog. “However, it is the complete opposite! When diamonds are purchased, the whole country can survive! In Botswana there used to be 10 schools but the diamond industry has now funded 300 schools!”
Feminist blogger, Rachel McCarthy James, however drew different conclusions. "It's not so much that 'Botswana has sooooo many more schools as [that] the tribal system of schooling and government was disrupted and colonized, and is beginning to collapse under itself'".Feminist blogger, Rachel McCarthy James, however drew different conclusions. "It's not so much that 'Botswana has sooooo many more schools as [that] the tribal system of schooling and government was disrupted and colonized, and is beginning to collapse under itself'".
So there you have it, our top five. If you are outraged that your favourite cause celebrity isn't listed here, don't be. Tell us who we've missed in the comment threads below.So there you have it, our top five. If you are outraged that your favourite cause celebrity isn't listed here, don't be. Tell us who we've missed in the comment threads below.
This content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up free to become a member of the Global Development Professionals NetworkThis content is brought to you by Guardian Professional. To get more articles like this direct to your inbox, sign up free to become a member of the Global Development Professionals Network