[Ammi]

Caitlyn Jenner and Harry Redknapp both accepted large fees to back a charity set up by undercover reporters.

An operation by Channel 4’s Dispatches programme-makers found famous faces would take tens of thousands of pounds to show public support for a charity reporters had invented.

The programme invented the dummy charity Cleaning Up Plastic Pollution in Africa (CUPPA), built a basic website and created some merchandise, but did not register it as a charity and did not seek donations.

After contacting celebrity booking agents, Dispatches was told Redknapp would be willing to back the charity but it would cost £15,000 for him to do one post on Instagram and an extra £5,000 for a photoshoot.

The programme signed a contract, paid the agency £20,000 and secretly filmed the photoshoot.

One week later, a photograph of Redknapp wearing a CUPPA T-shirt and cap and holding a themed cup was posted on his Instagram page.

He wrote: “I’m proud to support CUPPA – a great new charity that’s Clearing Up Plastic Pollution in Africa. Follow them on insta to show your support.”

He did not disclose that he was paid for the post.

A lawyer for Redknapp said: “Mr Redknapp is a prolific supporter of charity and has raised considerable sums over the years.

“He receives no fees for such support and would never knowingly charge for the regular charity work he undertakes… His support is of enormous financial benefit to these charities.

“In this case he only agreed to payment after being informed that the charity was supported by private investors… He was paid less than the sum quoted by MN2S (the talent agency).”

The programme also paid MN2S more than £19,500 for Jenner to take part in a photoshoot and share an Instagram post.

In a video filmed on a phone, Jenner speaks about why she is backing the charity, saying: “I think we have to be good stewards of this planet. And the plastic issue is huge.

“And, you know, not that it’s easy to do, but it can be done, is to clean the beaches up, clean areas up, especially plastics because they don’t go away. And we need to be good stewards. And it is something that we can fix.”

Jenner posted a photograph of herself wearing a CUPPA T-shirt and holding a CUPPA cup on her Instagram the next day, but did not make clear she was paid.

A lawyer for Jenner said: “It is well known to the public that sometimes celebrities are paid fees for doing promotional work for charities.

“The benefit is mutual… Apart from this instance, she has never been paid for her charitable work, and always intended to donate the money raised via the photoshoot and Instagram post to charities she supports… She feels that she has been targeted in the programme because of her status as a well-known TV personality and that she has been exploited to increase viewing figures.”

A representative for MN2S said: “Many of the celebrities that MN2S work with undertake charity work for free. In addition, they are regularly approached to undertake one-off fundraising work – as was the case with your fake charity CUPPA. In those instances, we may agree a fee that covers not just the individual but the work of the team that make it possible.

“This is widely known within the charity sector. Charities book celebrities because it raises their profile and helps them often raise far more money than the amount paid to the celebrity. The fee is often heavily discounted from the commercial rate, as was the case with the celebrities we work with and CUPPA.”

Another talent agency approached in the programme, Champions plc, said: “The vast majority of our charity engagements are free of charge.

“Over the last three years, Champions has given more than 10% of its annual profits to charity.

“When approached undercover by Dispatches, we believed that the brief was to help raise the profile of an unknown charity that wished to engage celebrities to perform at a private launch event funded by private benefactors.

“It would be wrong to conclude that all those named would have been aware that they were even under discussion.

“Champions are a responsible organisation and will of course watch the programme carefully. Should it raise any concerns we will investigate and take action where appropriate.”

Celebs For Sale: The Great Charity Scandal is on Dispatches on Channel 4 at 8pm on Monday.



https://uk.yahoo.com/news/harry-redk...000100277.html

[bitontheslide]

celebrities have always been paid for charity work in some form or another. Take a look at live aid or comic relief and they are always doing it to promote a new album/book/show or increase their profile. No one does anything for free

[Ammi]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

celebrities have always been paid for charity work in some form or another. Take a look at live aid or comic relief and they are always doing it to promote a new album/book/show or increase their profile. No one does anything for free

...hmmmm, I’m not sure it has that simplicity if Dispatches are highlighting it as a ‘scandal’...it’ll be an interesting watch tomorrow...

[Cherie]

Some people just love money, i thought it was well documented that ‘arry loves cash

[Oliver_W]

I don't really see a problem with this? The charities get more attention, the celebs get some money out of it,

[Babayaro.]

Just goes to show what having loads of money can do to some people. It's just complete and utter greed.

[thesheriff443]

A joke of a scandal, dispatches should spent the money on a charity or set up the charity.

There have been cases for years were people arrange charity events raise a lot of money and take most of it in fees leaving a charity with chump change.

Advertising pay celebs and sports stars millions a year to promote their brands

[Morgan.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

I don't really see a problem with this? The charities get more attention, the celebs get some money out of it,

There’s taking money and there’s taking the piss. Of course when public appearances, advertisements and promotions are there sole income it’s natural for them to want payment in some form. But the issue is - these are huge celebrities that definitely aren’t short of cash and won’t be anytime soon so wanting upwards of £20k to post one picture advertising a charity is ridiculous. Not to mention the charity would have to fork that amount of cash out themselves to pay for it.

[Morgan.]

I’m sure these celebs don’t think twice about it, but personally I would feel extremely guilty accepting £20,000 for one instagram post to support a charity. I mean talk about not having to work for your money

[Zizu]

Originally Posted by Cherie

Some people just love money, i thought it was well documented that ‘arry loves cash

Brown envelopes.. nudge , nudge


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Morgan.

There’s taking money and there’s taking the piss. Of course when public appearances, advertisements and promotions are there sole income it’s natural for them to want payment in some form. But the issue is - these are huge celebrities that definitely aren’t short of cash and won’t be anytime soon so wanting upwards of £20k to post one picture advertising a charity is ridiculous. Not to mention the charity would have to fork that amount of cash out themselves to pay for it.

I got the impression that they (thought they) were being paid to regularly promote/represent the charity, rather than one post?

Originally Posted by Morgan.

I’m sure these celebs don’t think twice about it, but personally I would feel extremely guilty accepting £20,000 for one instagram post to support a charity. I mean talk about not having to work for your money

True, but for celebs of their calibre £20k is probably like our equivalent of £200, i.e. not a huge amount, but enough for the "work" to be worth the "effort"

[Mitchell]

Originally Posted by Morgan.

There’s taking money and there’s taking the piss. Of course when public appearances, advertisements and promotions are there sole income it’s natural for them to want payment in some form. But the issue is - these are huge celebrities that definitely aren’t short of cash and won’t be anytime soon so wanting upwards of £20k to post one picture advertising a charity is ridiculous. Not to mention the charity would have to fork that amount of cash out themselves to pay for it.

They were told the fee was covered by private investors weren’t they?

[thesheriff443]

Originally Posted by Zizu

Brown envelopes.. nudge , nudge


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

The deal was done through his management so hardly a envelope under the table.

[thesheriff443]

Harry and Meghan talk about setting up these charities do you think they are going to do it for free now they have chosen to fund their life’s.

[thesheriff443]

When someone offers you a free lunch it’s because they want you to pay for an expensive dinner.

[LeatherTrumpet]

lol

if some mug charity is daft enough to pay you to promote it, take the cash

[Morgan.]

Originally Posted by Oliver_W

I got the impression that they (thought they) were being paid to regularly promote/represent the charity, rather than one post?


True, but for celebs of their calibre £20k is probably like our equivalent of £200, i.e. not a huge amount, but enough for the "work" to be worth the "effort"

Dispatches was told Redknapp would be willing to back the charity but it would cost £15,000 for him to do one post on Instagram

Nope

[Oliver_W]

Originally Posted by Morgan.

Nope

Yikes, that's what I get for skimming

[AnnieK]

Some of the highest earners in this country are CEOs of Charities....its not new that people make money off the back of charities

[Braden]

Caitlyn Jenner doesn’t surprise me at all, but I am glad Harry Redknapp has been called out. I never thought he was down-to-earth as he was depicted to be.

[arista]

[Saph]

tbf I dont really see the problem, if i was famous and someone offered me money to promote some charity I would too

[smudgie]

Hardly a flipping scandal.
Someone gets paid for doing a job.
Their promo could well make more money for a charity than it costs to pay them.
Not forgetting of course that they were approached by the so called charity.

[Shaun]

It's honestly laughable how tories on here will defend doing anything for money

[GoldHeart]

Originally Posted by bitontheslide

celebrities have always been paid for charity work in some form or another. Take a look at live aid or comic relief and they are always doing it to promote a new album/book/show or increase their profile. No one does anything for free

They're NOT supposed to be paid for comic relief , I thought that was a one off free gig ?. Same with CIN ?.