Music entertainers-Rock, R&B, pop, and rap: A mix of artists, all implicated by performances funded and hosted by the Gaddafis.Pop stars don't always decide who supports them (their fanbase), but sometimes they are expected to be selective in who they support in return. So performing for a despot or war criminal would not cut it my most expectations of role-model pop-star behavior.
We could give them the benefit of the doubt for their unintentional connection to a despotic and now outright murderous regime. Often performances are set up by a third party. Mariah Carey is guilty of attending a Gaddafi party, not conforming with her traditional concept of a hero in you. Four songs in exchange for one million US $. That Gaddafi was behind the scenes was quite apparent, so it would have been hard for Mariah to feign zero knowledge. Beyonce also said she did not know who was footing the bill for her New Year star-studded act.
Private shows for the Gaddafi clan seem to be a celebrity crime not just one, but many, can claim to have fallen for.
They seem to have regretted such performances past, now that Gaddafi senior's bloody and unpopular image risks tarnishing their own.
Any buzzing party hosted by the Gaddafis is now an embarassment to the stars.
Usher is not so impressed by the kudos of performing for a Gansta style Leader as Gaddafi could be considered: instead, feeling troubled after learning only later more about the hosts of his New Year's gig in 2009.
Most have pledged to give it all up (the Gaddafi's stained money) to various human rights organisations, expressing retroactive regret for performing for family of Libyan reviled Leader.
They say bad publicity is better than no publicity.
Not so sure 50 cent's stunt of spawning a violent Video Game inspired by his performing for a Bad Leader, has done much for his image. The game opens with 50 cent performing a gig in unnamed war-torn ME country (that narrows it down then!) for 10m bux. No bearings on real-life profit from the Gaddafi party?
