Beyoncé may be one of pop’s biggest icons, but she’s not without her detractors. However, it’s safe to say that fan’s of the superstar singer were shocked when acting and singing legend Harry Belafonte recently came out against Beyoncé and her husband, Jay-Z, claiming that they have shirked the social responsibilities. Though Beyoncé is typically mum when it comes to her critics, she recently broke her silence and responded to Belafonte.
The trouble all started last week, when Belafonte did an interview with The Hollywood Reporter and was asked if he was happy about the image of minorities in Hollywood.
“It is sad. And I think one of the great abuses of this modern time is that we should have had such high-profile artists, powerful celebrities. But they have turned their back on social responsibility. That goes for Jay-Z and Beyoncé, for example,” replied Belafonte.
“Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking. I really think he is black,” he added.
However, Beyoncé, who recently performed at the U.N. General Assembly Hall, responded to Belafonte’s words by having her representatives send a dossier of her humanitarian accomplishments to the Wall Street Journal.
In the email, which was called “An abbreviated list of the unselfish work Beyoncé has done and continues to do,” it was listed that Beyoncé has done such acts as co-founding The Survivor Foundation “a multi-purpose community outreach facility in downtown Houston”; donating “100K in 2008 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund to aid Texas victims of Hurricane Ike”; performing in “MTV’s Hope For Haiti Now! Benefit in addition to making a generous monetary donation,” among several other acts of charity.
Well, touché, Beyoncé. It looks like Belafonte may have to reconsider, and hopefully both stars will continue in their humanitarian efforts.
But, thankfully, they’re not alone. Check out some other charitable celebrities below. – nicholas robinson
