Is Wyclef Dipping Into His Charity's Honey Pot?
Just a heads-up to all of you guys donating money to Haiti via Wyclef Jean's charity - past tax returns show the former Fugees member has used donation $$$ in the past for personal reasons!!
Not okay!
Check out just a couple of the sketchy withdrawals taken from The Wyclef Jean Foundation:
- $31,200 in rent to NYC recording studio Platinum Sound (owned by Foundation board members Jean and Jerry Duplessis)
- $100,000 to the studio for "musical performance services of Wyclef Jean at a benefit concert."
- $250,000 to Haitian based Telemax for "pre-purchased TV airtime and production services."
Every withdrawal graciously mentions the services were priced "below market value", like that makes it any better!
You can take a peek at legal docs over HERE.
Thoughts????
[Image via Johnny Louis/WENN.]
The culprits/default.jpg"/>Hot Girl On Girl Action At The Critics' Choice Awards!
Holly Lands Her Own Show!
WOW!!!!!!!!! People DONATE TO THE RED CROSS INSTEAD!!!!!!!!!!
PEREZ YOU SHOULD BE MORE RESPONSIBLE WITH WHAT YOU POST. WHAT YOU JUST POSTED IS BS. I KNOW THAT FOR SURE
that's despicable and disgusting…this is why i'm always nervous about donating to charities. you never really know how that money is going to be spent.
o hell naw!!!!!!!!!!! that aint right at all!
Partial Statement by Wyclef Jean posted on the Yele sight
“It is impossible for me to even comprehend the recent attacks on my character and the integrity of my foundation, Yele Haiti. The fact that these attacks come as we are mobilized to meet the greatest human tragedy in the history of Haiti only serves to perplex me even further.
“I first learned of these baseless attacks when I left Haiti late Friday, where I had been since 12 hours after the earthquake.
“Let me be clear: I denounce any allegation that I have ever profited personally through my work with Yele Haiti. These baseless attacks are simply not true.
“In fact, I have, time and again, committed significant amounts of my own money to support the work of Yele Haiti and other organizations in support of our efforts over the years.
“More than that, I have spent countless hours, days, months and years of my life committed to the country of Haiti, the people of Haiti and the success of Haiti.
“These baseless allegations were first put forward by a fringe website with a history of pursuing sensationalist story lines. The mainstream media’s pursuit of them has required Yele to divert precious resources during this critical time in order to answer various inquiries. That must end.
Hope he hits you again!
assssss!
holy Shit! seriously!!!!
Typical Negro.
Really? And what good do you do for the world, Perez? Have you set up any charities to help any devolping countries? Wycelf has had his charity for a while, and he is actually helping the Haitian people. He is over there in Haiti helping out right now, how can you even IMPLY that he doing it for himself or for his own good? Really, pulling dead bodies out of collapased buildings is helping himself how? You put Madonna in a good light because she donated money, but Wyclef has been fighting to help HIS people, before the earthquake and now in the aftermath. How about you get off your self-serving ass and do something for this world, then you can judge others who are trying to make a difference.
Give money to the Red Cross! Not a rapper.
mehhh
thats why I donated to red cross
This might be true, maybe not. Either way, to be labeled a charity you only have to give a tiny percentage of the money you bring in. I prefer to see where my effort go, Im not a rich person, or a celebrity, I cannot afford to be conned. Giving back to the community is one of the best things EVER. Instead, I give my own time, volunteering the skill that I have to offer. If you can help one person, to that one person, it is the whole world, especially during hard times.
WTF!! That's just scumbag low!! He is going to burn in hell for stealing from charities, that bastard!!!
Check out Charitynavigator.org for organizations that are on the up and up.
Is it true Madonna only pledged a quarter million for Haiti, even as rich as she is?
17 comments and I see none
I'd rather donate to Wyclef's organization over any other ESPECIALLY the Red Cross! (They are well known for their shady pocketing past).
_____
Wyclef Jean is actually IN HAITI as we speak, removing dead bodies from the streets with his own hands…..This is so typical of the other charitable organizations to attack him out of jealousy. Actually, this is sickening, now that I think about it! We need to pull together! The Red Cross and other Organizations appear to be "upset" that Yele is a success via text msg donations, so they'll do anything to increase dollar value for their organization. What is wrong with this entire picture? The focus of helping the Haitian victims seems to be diluted and diverted. Saaaaaaaad!
typical scumbag negroid
Absolutely horrible if true. That money should be going directly to the Haitians. They're dying the streets!
Has anything ever gone toward any sort of actual aid? How much and what?
thats some grimey shit wyclef. you're a sheisty motherfucker.
I was waiting for you to take a dig at him…. You probably did a happy dance when you heard about the quake.
fuck it being from s. fl it's hard times and any $$ and supplies we've sent in the past have been hijacked by thugs. I'm helping our peeps in s. fl find family from there. least i know it'll be used by a family in need.
Re: pinklavender – I agree. His actions do not indicate he wants to screw over his own ppl. He is actually down there HELPING. Unlike idiots just typing stupid hate messages.
I'm sorry last time i watched news reports i didn't see you out in haiti removing dead bodies form the streets Perez, nor have i heard anything about any donations or possible efforts on your part to help out with this tragedy. How about devoting some of your time and resources to help instead of going out with real housewives to be "tardy to the party", you clearly have a great fan base why not take some time and use that?
is his the one that you send yele or hele i forget which. i think it is and of course thats the one i did. if thats true then what a dick
He's a pig… should do jail time.
hmm wait PEREZ… how do you know this shit is TRUE? i think you should know your FACTS before you post ANYTHING.
the smoking gun website shows his foundation tax returns-it shows over 1.1 million in donations and after expenses-all paid to him and his business partner (who is also on the board of the charity)-the amount left for the charity is around 78,000.It's hard to believe,but that don't look good
great to here since i donated to his charity for haiti yesterday. i hope this isnt true (even though i've read about it 2 other places today)…it's pretty low to steal from such a devastating and desperate situation.
Please donate to the Red Cross and not this looser. He should be ashamed! …and embaressed!
Re: pinklavender – i AGREE with you there! PEREZ why don't you concentrate on trying to HELP Haiti, instead of spreading some silly rumors that's been on the internet for days now!!!!
Umm to all of you defending this guy this story broke out on the smoking gun and, unlike Perez, they are reliable with these kind of stories. Hell they even have the IRS forms to prove it! Wyclef can try all he wants to defend himself but the proof is in the documents people! Shame on him!!!
Re: wholestory – Oh yeah Right… No one has sympathy for you! Now who you really are you greedy bastard!
You are a scumb@g if you don't post his youtube video response to these accusations.
Re: adetuyi – Yeah hes in Haiti along with lots of other caring people who are helping out. The difference between Wyclef and the others is he is STEALING from his charity to pay HIMSELF for his good deeds while the others are doing it for free. Why would he need to pay himself $100,000 for a musical charity performance for an event he created?! The Smoking Gun also stated that his charity has been around for 12 years but they only started filing thier returns in August of 2009!!! Something is fishy here people. If you can't see that then your BLIND.
You think that shady fucking ass is in Haiti is going through dead bodies? NOT. Give to the red cross. They are monitored. And Mr. Wyclef Suck my Clit, doesn't use the money for his "beloved" haiti. He uses is for his stupid ass recording studio or rent. What a shady ass. And no, you fucking morons that think that a statement from him is completely accurate cuz money suckers never lie. (GROW UP!) That's not proof it's a PR statement. Look at actualy records. You know the kind that are actually relevant? You think he's gonna come out and say he's fucked it up? Nope. He's as talentless in helping his own country as he is in his band. Meth face and her dum dums need to fucking do the right thing and use their "popularity" to go towards red cross. Not for a PR statement to put attention on their sinking band. Sick fuckers to use this for publicity.
i can't believe anyone is surprised by this shit!!
I ALMOST donated to his relief fund the other day - then - I don't know, I just had a really bad feeling about it and changed my mind……. Y'know what they say, eh? GO WITH YOUR GUT!!!
Oh crap! I donated to his text first. =( Say it isn't so Wyclef!
WOW, Thanks P!
If this is true it's really shameful!
Donate to the RED CROSS PEOPLE!
Re: TooToxic4You – The only "looser" here, is the dummy that doesn't know the difference between "Loser" and "Looser" And the red Cross will take a bigger chunk of the total donation money, than what wyclef allegedly took.
Re: ducky3 – This is not the time for this sort of ignorant racism. Grow up and be thankful for all of your blessings. Thank God you and your family are not suffering like the haitians are right now. Unimaginable. Race is not the issue here. People stealing money from charities or unsuspecting people is not a typical negro move. What about all the ponzi schemes? Not one done or led by a person of color. White people do dispicable things, black people do dispicable things, asian, latinos, male, female, gay, straight, short and tall. it is a human condition so please don't bring color into this especially on a blog site because that is totally the ignorant coward move.
Re: ducky3 – This is not the time for this sort of ignorant racism. Grow up and be thankful for all of your blessings. Thank God you and your family are not suffering like the haitians are right now. Unimaginable. Race is not the issue here. People stealing money from charities or unsuspecting people is not a typical negro move. What about all the ponzi schemes? Not one done or led by a person of color. White people do dispicable things, black people do dispicable things, asian, latinos, male, female, gay, straight, short and tall. it is a human condition so please don't bring color into this especially on a blog site because that is totally the ignorant coward move!
nice
And i wish more people would be so outraged when they find how the head of all these shady corporations are found stealing Millions of dollars
when your career is a stagnant pile of shit, have to get money from somewhere
HE IS A SKETCHY GUY
PEOPLE SHOULD DONATE TO "RED CROSS" ..THEY ARE THE BEST WHEN IT COMES TO DISTRIBUTING DONATIONS IN THE MOST EQUITABLE WAY…ALSO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS THAT PEOPLE SHOULD SEND $$$ TO ARE UNICEF, DOCTORS WITHOUT BORDERS, LOCAL NGO'S … EVERYONE SHOULD GIVE AS MUCH AS THEY CAN … GOD IS WATCHING
THIS IS TYPICAL BLACK BEHAVIOR. ALL NIGZ KNOW HOW TO DO IS ROB, RAPE AND MURDER
WHAT HAPPENED IN HAITI IS PUNISHMENT TO BLACKS FOR THE IMMORAL BEHAVIOR OF TYPICAL BLACKS LIKE OJ, SHAQ AND TIGER WOODS
So glad I donated to C.A.R.E. instead.
Jeez Perez, are you asking for another fight with this guy again?! Arent you punching above your weight here?……Leave off him, and let him do the work hes doing in Hati….I'd say that on this on this one you should keep your nose out of it…….Im jus sayin.xxx
Re: h8terboi – Yeah, because white guys are so much more moral and good. Charlie Sheen, Hugh Grant, George Bush, Timothy McVay, Ted Kaczynski…not to mention Ted Bundy, David Berkowitz (Son of Sam), John Wayne Gacey, Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson…shall I go on? Crazies and cheats come in all sizes, shapes, genders, and colors. Comments like the one you made prove two things to me: 1) you're ignorant and uneducated, and 2) anything you write is not only completely reprehensible (quick, go get a dictionary), but should be dismissed; just as one would dismiss the passing commentary of a 5-year-old as useless and unremarkable. Grow up.
Re: ducky3 – Same comment I just posted applies to you as well. My only question…I guess the guys who ripped off the entire country by tanking their companies/employees and walking away with $80 mill severance packages were negroes too? Oh shit, wait….They were white. Way to be a jackass.
Where's your money go bitch? Or do you give any to anyone but the white trash that bleaches your roots? You love to call out everyone else on their charities or lack there of, but do you ever give? Noone ever hears of what you do for the charities you promote on your site. Is that all you do? Promote and forget? You're worse than all the celeb's you talk shit about! Boo on you! If you keep stirring up shit you're gonna get some on you!
Re: Cubanito – Um, that was Will I Am, but they look alike though.
This is why, if I actually had money to donate, I wouldn't. Donate clothes or water or something. People can't steal that.
anyone who relies on Perez for REAL news is nuts. listen ot him for the gossip and who's a junkie and who is sleeping with who…but when it comes to REAL news, like how charities are set up and how relief money is being sent listening to him is retarded. he's not a hard journalists, just a gossip merchant.
perez….have you donated any money to the haitian relief effort or done anything besides publish what other ppl are doing?
Re: ohboy – Amen. Thank you. All of the real nuts, mass murderers, serial killers, etc. Are what? White! But I don't say typical cracker ass, red neck, inbred motherfucker (literally). I just think sad for mankind in general. I think minority crime is often a reaction to miserable circumstances that are often difficult to overcome.
The TV airtime I can understand; the other two expenses look bogus. Especially his foundation paying him for his services. Running a non-profit is a very serious commitment; you have to avoid even the appearance of impropriety. Very dissapointing on Wyclef's part- I hope he comes clean, apologizes, pays back the $100,000 to the foundation; rather than make lame excuses or worse, trying to deny the scandal out of existence.
Re: h8terboi – lol…u just mad cuz all the white girls r chasing the big hard black d*cks instead of ur small soft pink d*cks…loser..get out of ur mama's basement and get a life.
people will believe any thing they here now a days w/out even confirming things…..perez stop talking ish. how come we never hear about ur charitable contributions. the only thing u contribute to is damagin the ozone with ur hair products….its 2010 maybe you should join a GYM, U KNOW NEW YEARS RESOLUTION. LOSE WEIGHT AND STOP TALKIN SH!T…….
Be careful with all charities. The standard charities are the safest, and more regulated, but remember, there are shifty people working in all charities (out for themselves). A prime example was the San Diego chapter of the Red Cross a few years back. A wildfire in Alpine, just east of San Diego, destroyed homes, killed horses that panicked and ran into the fire, and injured one fireman. The Red Cross appealed for funds, and raised $400,000 for disaster relief. But months after the fire, little money had gone to victims. This led to publicity, and only then did the San Diego Red Cross tell the public the truth: Of the more than $400,000 raised, only $159,000 — less than half — was spent on the relief effort. Even worse, of the $159,000 that was to support the victims, $105,000 went to general chapter expenses and overhead, like upgrading the office phone system and Red Cross vehicles. The person in charge, who made a salary of midhigh six digits, and had an office with high end furniture, was eventually forced to resign. Nothing illegal was actually done, but if you think you are donating $10 to a charity, not all that money is going to help those who really need it. The Red Cross is still a safe bet though, more than many fly-by-nights that start up for a specific cause. Also, do not give/donate money to someone who is going door to door, soliciting over the phone or working store parking lots.
SO WHAT. HE STILL DONATES A LOT OF MONEY. ITS HIS CHATITY SO HE CAN USE IT ANY WAY HE WANTS. THERE IS NO CHARITY THAT DONATES 100% TO THE PEOPLE IN NEED. AND THOSE SAY 100% GOES TO THE POEPE IN NEED ARE LYING.
If you're standing up for WJ then you've not read the DOCS. Try reading stuff before stand up for a loser.
He a THUG from HAITI? What a shocker!
This is ridiculous. I'm assuming most of you are at a mature age—-why would you even donate via text? To lazy? Cause he's your favorite rapper or whatever the hell he does/did? Just cause he was born there doesn't mean he won't pull shady shit. Look at other "charities" that are by one person for illnesses and shit, there are people out there who say "Oh donate to my cause blah blah blah I work hard!" And then steal all the proceeds.
Donate to a damn charity that has been around for a while & that is LEGIT. God damn people. :\
Re: response1 – Even CNN is talking about this and so is all other major news sources because the last thing anyone should do is donate to charities that use money for sketchy reasons. Wow you guys are dumb and for the record Im pretty sure Perez does help causes out. I know he has done some volunteer work and he posts about certain charities and they don't have to pay sooooo yeah people on this thing do not make any sense.
Re: CBE –
well said! I didn't read your comment until I already submitted my own, but you basically said the same thing I did.
There are some people who just want their own gain yet say they care. It's BS.
Re: klara9038 –
So you would steal from a charity? What a loser.
Hes another Thug, like Obama, thinks that money grows on trees for his own personal use!
Donate to the Red Cross instead. Not saying Wyclef is a theif, but there is so much corruption with anybody even remotely related to Haiti it`s insane. People don`t know this, but long before any of this earthquake ever happened, the UN regularly had to transport food and donations under ARMED GUARD because as soon as the truck drove two feet they would be robbed and the food sold off. Now it`s even worse. You have Haitians even more desperate so what they are probably going to have to do is bring in armed forces to escort the Red Cross.
Stars don't need to set up their own 'charities'. They should support legitimate
existing ones.
oh it's all a tax write off
and a personal slush fund.
Cmon, he's haitian, what did you expect?
And I bet Ignatieff is happy this earthquake took him off the news, so he can go lick his sorry ass in embarrassment. What a desperate clown!
He's a laughing stock, what next mikey? Oh, back to harvard!
Re: WildOrchid1298 – ANY ONE CAN POST CHARITIES ON THEIR WEB SITES DOES THAT MEAN THEIR DOING N E WORK, COME ON NOW… BUT DOES HE EVER DO ANY THING OTHER THAN TALK SHIT.. AND EAT SHIT…… UR ALWAYZ DOGIN' PPL…. WHY DON'T U STICK TO WHAT U KNOW BEST…WATCHING TOP LESS LITTLE BOYS AND COMMENTIN ON HOW UGLY FEMALES ARE, WHEN U CLEARLY WISH U WERE A GIRL….
I'd give to he Red Cross before I would give to a celeb charity (orbefore I would give to the US Gov. too- they f up everything). No knock on Wy but celeb charities usually do have the worst ratio of what is given to what is actually spent on the cause because they don't have the expertise or the time to give to the charities. He probably sees these costs as expenses to raise money and not excessive or unreasonable.
Everyone if you are smart-Donate EXCLUSIVLEY to UNICEF or the AMERICAN RED CROSS ONLY. DO NOT DONATE TO CELEBRITY INSPIRED CHARITIES.
This is a very complicated relief mission. While Wycleff most likely has good intentions, people donating their hard earned money should be careful who they give their money to. Haiti needs help efficiently and fast. Established charities such as the Red Cross, Doctors w/o Borders, Americares, etc. are organized, have trained rescue people in place, and are experienced on how to get aid to the people. Their administrative costs are less than 1% of all monies donated. People need help now.
His (Jean) press release in response does not even attempt to explain the shady expenses. If the expenses were legit, they could have been explained therein.
what a loser!
Re: sexyafrican –
are you donating at all?
he has a lot of fans, therefore advertising charities for causes gets more people interested in helping out & I'm sure he does donate here & there.
I've been hearing this for years that his charities are shady. don't trust it. the best is amnesty international, they donate almost 100%.
Statement by Wyclef Jean:
“My commitment to Haiti is a unique and everlasting bond.”
“I formalized that commitment when I formed my first foundation, in 1994. From that day forward, I have spent tireless hours working on behalf of my homeland on development issues as well as human and immigrant rights.
“I have been committed to helping the people of Haiti throughout my life, and that commitment will continue until the day I die.
“It is impossible for me to even comprehend the recent attacks on my character and the integrity of my foundation, Yele Haiti. The fact that these attacks come as we are mobilized to meet the greatest human tragedy in the history of Haiti only serves to perplex me even further.
“Let me be clear: I denounce any allegation that I have ever profited personally through my work with Yele Haiti. These baseless attacks are simply not true.
“In fact, I have, time and again, committed significant amounts of my own money to support the work of Yele Haiti and other organizations in support of our efforts over the years.
“These baseless allegations were first put forward by a fringe website with a history of pursuing sensationalist story lines. The mainstream media’s pursuit of them has required Yele to divert precious resources during this critical time in order to answer various inquiries. That must end.
“I will continue to commit my focus to what is most important right now: Haiti.
“I will never give up on my commitment.”
why post stuff like this? people are gonna stop donating when you put crap like this! seriously, they are trying to save and rebuild peoples lives and you are telling people to stop helping with that?
The TAX FORMS speak for themselves. Over a MILLION donated; $78k "left" for charitable purposes after "expenses." That is a ridiculously POOR return. If nothing else, perhaps highlighting this issue will give Wyclef some motivation to clean up his charity so that more $ goes to Haiti and not to him and his partner.
Donate to the Red Cross; it has one of the best records of any charity in terms of how much of the money actually goes to HELP.
Re: Cubanito – Uh…. wrong person, dumbass.
Most charities are a big ripoff. You must be very careful when you donate. Do you remember the last celebrity charity telethon? Nobody knew where the money went. DONATE TO THE RED CROSS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
How about donating that $4.35 profit from your last book doukchbag?
@uncle eldon…do you really want to turn this into a political conversation? the topic is wyclef's use of his charities money. do you really want to tiscuss what your butt boys w and bush sr. did with our money? look at the hole our country is in and ask yourself how we got there. it wasn't obama's doing. if you walked onto a sinking ship, would it be aso easy to pull it out of the water? no, it isn't that simple to turn the economy around. on topic: if the IRS is involved, i will wait to hear their findings. perez is notoriously biased and slates his blog towards his own predjudices. the irs has forensics acounting that will uncover where the money goes and if it's shady, the charity's status will be revoked. period. wait to hear the whole story and then decide. in the meantime, be smart enough to do your own research towards where to apply your money and time. there are tons of legal and above board organizations out there to choose from.
Re: h8terboi – You're a stupid piece of shit.Now go back to fucking your sister/mother
Terrible!!! He should be ashamed!! DONT donate w him!!! Any speculation is worth investigating. And this is very disgusting if its true!! He should be punished if this is true!!!!
What an unreponsible comment.
You are going to tell me that the red cross is going to care more from the people of Haiti than one of his owns?
As far as I heard, the red cross spend like 80% of the donations in administration expenses…on the other hand, a friend lost everything on a tragedy and when she went to the red cross they did not give her anything! not a single dollar. All they offered her was to lend her money that she had to pay back. They make people to sing a paper to pay back - that is what I was told.
Re: Quemical – so its ok hes using the money for himself as long as hes in haiti helping? So stupid! How about if he doesnt use the money AND help in haiti! Wouldnt that be better? Of course! One right act of kindness does NOT erase a bad act of greed!
Re: Honk_If_You_Hate_Perez – douchebag not doukchbag
Perez you truly are the most repulsive piece of shit on this earth.
You sucked Madonna's cock because she donated $2 out of the hundreds of millions she owns, and this guy is out there on the frontline helping his people and you're here criticising him without checking all the FACTS?
I hope you get stabbed in your fat gay ass.
your a HUGE-time hater for someone who has never accomplished anything close to what wyclef has charity wise.. your prettty fucking ridiculous. i mean really, whats the point of even saying anything at all? you're fucking pointless.
People, PLEASE do not make an opinion based on what you read on PEREZHILTON.COM. Use something reputable instead and then form an opinion.
What is happening to the world!!!!