A star-studded Hollywood fundraiser to aid hurricane victims unsurprisingly became a political soapbox for the A-list cast.
Hollywood rolled out its top celebrities Tuesday for the live broadcast of “Hand in Hand: A Benefit for Hurricane Relief,” which was aimed at raising funds for victims of Hurricane Harvey which ravaged Texas and the Houston area, and Hurricane Irma, which slammed into Florida over the weekend.
Hand in Hand telethon raises more than $14 million in the first hour for hurricane survivors: https://t.co/wPCK1BGQ5G #HandInHand pic.twitter.com/mHHPyGHOdS
— Good Morning America (@GMA) September 13, 2017
But no gathering of liberal celebrities would be complete without endless political jabs and hot air aimed at President Trump and anyone else who does not agree with their left wing religion.
Video: #HandInHand goes political SECONDS in as Steve Wonder says people who don’t accept climate change are “blind or unintelligent” #TTT pic.twitter.com/z1UmXJjZYe
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 13, 2017
Right out of the gate, Stevie Wonder began the show calling for everyone to come together and “to love” those affected by the storms, regardless of “political persuasions. He followed this with a political statement.
“Anyone who believes there is no such thing as global warming must be blind or unintelligent,” he said, using the moment to polarize a nation he just invited to come together.
Way to undermine the objective of the telethon by alienating half the country in the first 30 seconds.
— Cousin Jimmy (@JC7U) September 13, 2017
He literally said there is no politics in hurricanes, then called people who don’t believe in global warming blind and unintelligent. Wow.
— Peter (@eyebleedblue77) September 13, 2017
Houston native, Beyoncé, wasn’t far behind.
“During a time when it’s impossible to watch the news without seeing violence or racism in this country. Just when you think it couldn’t possibly be worse, natural disasters take precious life, do massive damage, and forever change lives,” she said in a pre-recorded video.
Video: @Beyonce follows Stevie Wonder in going political, saying hurricanes show climate change is “playing out..every day” #HandInHand #TTT pic.twitter.com/hGBqre1uGk
— Curtis Houck (@CurtisHouck) September 13, 2017
“The effects of climate change are playing out around the world everyday,” she continued, pointing an accusing finger at climate change as the cause behind the hurricanes, the recent earthquake in Mexico and a monsoon in India.
Climate scientists disagree but I’m sure Beyonce knows more than them.
Stupid celebrities. @CurtisHouck @newsbusters @Beyonce
— Tango Foxtrot (@TFinn82) September 13, 2017
The political posturing may not have reached the level of the 2005 telethon for victims of Hurricane Katrina, but the tone was there. That event was famously hijacked at one point by Kanye West’s infamous rant against former President George W. Bush.
“George Bush doesn’t care about black people,” West said with Mike Meyers, seeming stunned, stood by on stage.
With live feeds in Los Angeles, New York, Nashville, and San Antonio, celebrities like George Clooney, Barbra Streisand, Julia Roberts, Drake, Luke Bryan, Dennis Quaid, Adam Sandler, Terry Crews, Leonardo DiCaprio, Gwen Stefani, Ray Romano,, Cher and Tom Hanks either spoke, performed or even manned a phone during the hour-long telethon.
We’ve made $14 million thus far! Bruce Willis and I say thank you! @handinhandfund #handinhand pic.twitter.com/5xg8XahJ2j
— Lupita Nyong’o (@Lupita_Nyongo) September 13, 2017
?Just got the word, over 15 MILLION was raised tonight. You guys are AMAZING!!!! Had such a good time speaking to all of you. #HandinHand pic.twitter.com/BjxwWQaPrs
— NICKI MINAJ (@NICKIMINAJ) September 13, 2017
But the underlying political tone was apparent as Trump’s immigration and climate change views seemed to provide the subtext for the charitable do-good message from many of the celebrities.
Many viewers were frustrated, however, that celebrities would pollute the message of compassion, calls for prayer and coming together amidst images of hurricane devastation and shattered lives of victims.
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Can we finally get back to playing musicians and actors?
— Sam Ash (@samash_72) September 13, 2017
I won’t be watching #HandInHand – I’m not interested in the political opinions of unqualified ‘Entertainers’ – you are paid to entertain.
— Harry Skintags (@ghost96b69) September 13, 2017
I’m glad I didn’t give money to the telethon. I’m sick of these aholes on the left thinking their beliefs are the only valid ones. F* them!
— luv2runmh (@luv2runmh) September 13, 2017
Not a time to be political but, … ?climate change?
blah blah…… lol lol lol— Iamfromthefuture (@jjtallman) September 13, 2017
And making a needy cause into a political event is why I dont watch and why I dont donate.
— Deplorable Rodney (@RodTod423) September 13, 2017
Stevie wonder just lost money from me with his elitist political mouth! Shows how ignorant he really is!
— pam53 (@pam53) September 13, 2017
Bastardizing this fund raiser for their controversial opinions! Turned it off! #HandInHand
— Ginnyabaker (@Ginnyabaker) September 13, 2017
What a waste this is pushing an agenda on the backs of hurricane Victims
— Sue Riva (@Riva56Riva) September 13, 2017
Miss the days when most celebrities understood they were there to entertain people & kept their politics to themselves. Now they antagonize
— MichaelATX (@MATX78704) September 13, 2017
And thousands of TV sets across the country were turned off.
— Cousin Jimmy (@JC7U) September 13, 2017
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