Mariah Carey is being slammed by human rights activists for a concert she did for Angolan President José Eduardo dos Santos.
The Dec. 15 concert was part of a gala for the Angolan Red Cross, and was sponsored by Unitel, a mobile phone company which is owned by dos Santos’ daughter. Coincidentally, she also happens to be president of the Angolan Red Cross.
The Human Rights Foundation says Mariah got more than $1 million for the performance and was in Angola long enough to perform two concerts, actually:
“Mariah Carey can’t seem to get enough dictator cash, reportedly more than $1 million this time. Just five years ago she performed for the family of Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi. Now, she goes from private performances to public displays of support and credibility for one of Africa’s chief human rights violators and most corrupt tyrants,” said HRF president Thor Halvorssen. “It is the sad spectacle of an international artist purchased by a ruthless police state to entertain and whitewash the father-daughter kleptocracy that has amassed billions in ill-gotten wealth while the majority of Angola lives on less than $2 a day,” said Halvorssen.
In their brutal three-decade rule, the dos Santos family has exploited oil and diamond wealth to build total control over all branches of the government, the military, and the courts. Dos Santos has ordered the deaths of many politicians, journalists, and activists who protest his rule, yet has largely evaded external criticism.
Ouch.
Oh and do you remember that time when Mariah sang and later apologized for performing for Libyan dictator Muammar Gaddafi? (Seriously, Mariah, keep this link handy; it might be of use to you some day.)
Steve Harvey has been cleared of child abuse charges stemming from an incident with his 11-year-old son. Now, his ex-wife Mary Harvey is sitting in jail, facing contempt of court charges for leaking sealed facts about the case to the media:
As for the incident … according to a police report — obtained by TMZ — Mary claims Steve got a phone call from the boy’s school informing him his son lied about turning in homework. According to the kid, Steve hit him with a belt and then a paddle board — the kind used for hazing in fraternities.