While a number of the names attached to the “We Are the World” remake lent their voices to the charity single benefiting Haiti, a few notables were absent from the roster, including Lady Gaga . The Grammy-winning pop singer explains that while some media reports linked her to the “We Are the World” project, she had never planned on being involved with it.
“I’ve actually been in rehearsal for my new tour, but I was never supposed to do ‘We Are the World.’ So that’s a rumor,” Lady Gaga told “Access Hollywood.” “I believe that they may have asked, yes, about it, but I was unable to do it.”
But Gaga is quick to point out that just because she didn’t get involved with “We Are the World” doesn’t mean she hasn’t done her part for the nation. “I’ve been working on my own charity projects for Haiti,” she explained. “We’ve raised over half a million dollars for Haiti already and we like to work specifically with charities that are based in Haiti itself.”
Most notably, Gaga donated all proceeds from her Radio City gig in New York on January 24, as well as a day’s sales of merchandise on her Web site, to Haiti relief, totaling $500,000. “I donated all of the proceeds from one show worth of ticket sales as well as all of the merchandise from that show and for 24 hours we had a ‘Gaga for Haiti’ day where everything that was bought on the Web site … every dollar went to Haiti,” she said. “We’re continuing to work on more projects and we’re supposed to go to Haiti later this year for a show, which is very exciting.”
On Monday night, when the “We Are the World” single was being recorded, Randy Phillips, the CEO of AEG Live and Lionel Richie’s manager, discussed Gaga’s absence. “That was one of the few disappointments because I think she’s one of the greatest new stars we have,” said Phillips, who helped organize the session. “If I have one regret, it’s that she didn’t come and do this. But you have to understand that this is a daunting thing when you think about what this was going to be. It’s hard to tell people what it is until they see it and experience it. They had issues on the last one. Bruce Springsteen was right at the last minute and that really gave it credibility and Dylan came in and stuff like that.”
Although he didn’t know the exact reasons for her absence at the time, he did note that she had been involved with Haiti relief on her own, saying, “She’s involved with Haiti. She’s done other things for Haiti. But to be honest with you, I really don’t know.”
Learn more about what you can do to help with earthquake-relief efforts in Haiti , and for more information, see Think MTV. Visit HopeForHaitiNow.org or call (877) 99-HAITI to make a donation now.
