Within hours of surviving a devastating earthquake that struck his city, the mayor of Pacentro, Italy called someone he hoped would render aid… Madonna.
As in freshly rejected adoptive mother/singer/actress/author Madonna.
According to reports, following the 6.3 magnitude quake that left more than 200 dead, Fernando Caparso, the mayor of Pacentro, appealed to Madonna for financial aid. The pop diva’s paternal grandparents were born and raised in the small mountainside village and Caparso says he knew that the millionaire entertainer wouldn’t turn her back on her ancestors’ town.
He was right.
Madonna’s rep confirmed to reporters that the Material Girl provided a “substantial donation” to the earthquake relief effort. The singer’s rep wouldn’t give the exact amount, but a source says it’s about $500,000.
The “Like a Virgin” singer also issued a public statement, which read in part, “My heart goes out to the families that have lost loved ones or their homes.”
In other news, another big name female singer also parted with some of her millions, only Whitney Houston’s dough didn’t go to a good cause.
According to reports, Houston allegedly paid a $400,000 ransom to kidnappers who were threatening to kill her ex-husband Bobby Brown.
In a sensational new book written by former gang member David Collins, Brown was kidnapped over a $25,000 debt to a drug dealer, and held bound and gagged at gunpoint by members of a New York street gang known as the Preacher Crew. The alleged event took place in April 1993 – at the peak of Houston’s fame.
According to Collins’ book, Preacher of the Streets, the gang decided to extort more money than was owed by threatening to kill Brown. The book alleges that Brown was forced to call Houston and ask that $400,000 be delivered in exchange for his safe return.
Collins writes, “They came to an agreement. She was personally going to bring $400,000 to get her man back. The next day, she did just that. She was wearing a wig.”
Ironically, Houston and Brown divorced in 2007 after nearly 15 years of marriage. Sources blame the split on the couple’s recurrent drug problems.