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Despite raising more than $2 million in aid last week and facing scrutiny for the business practices of his Yele Haiti foundation, Wyclef Jean remains strong.
The Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter fired back at critics over the weekend via a YouTube clip denouncing claims that his charity has "enriched" his New York City recording studio in addition to his partnership with a Haitian TV production company. The tax returns for the charitable organization first surfaced online via popular watchdog Web site TheSmokingGun.com.
"This is what I come back to, an attack on my integrity and my foundation, Yele Haiti," he questioned. "Let me tell y'all something. First of all, you can donate to whatever charity you want to. I'm not here to force you to donate to Yele Haiti."
He continued, "I never and would ever take money for my personal pocket when it comes to Yele. I myself have put a $1 million inside of my own foundation. So not only do I denounce all of that, I'm disgusted by it."
In addition to standing by Yele Haiti and his fellow Haitian natives, the former Fugees' front man urged the world to help relocate close to 2 million displaced Haitians who have been affected by the 7.0 earthquake.
During a press conference on Monday, Jean admitted that Yele Haiti has "made mistakes" in the past, but that he has never used the organization's funds for personal fulfillment.
"My dad always told me, if you're a man with a clear conscience, speak with a clear conscience and the world will know," he said. "Have we made mistakes? Yes. Did I ever use Yele money for personal benefit? Absolutely not. Yele's books are transparent and open. We have been given a clean bill of health by an external auditor every year since we started."
This Friday, at 8 p.m., Wyclef will team up with Academy Award-winning actor George Clooney and CNN's Anderson Cooper for MTV's 'Hope for Haiti' global concert and telethon, which will feature performances from the likes of Alicia Keys, Justin Timberlake and Christina Aguilera. The special will be broadcast on all major networks.
Comments: (25)
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By: rasfanta on 1/23/2010 12:00PM
Well, well. Wycliff got his wake-up call. I never appreciated the condescending tone/message Wycliff has sent to black people here in America. First of all, Wycliff was put on the map by immitating Jamaican music and African-American hip-hop. He has been compared to Jimmy Hendriks, which is not true. He is not on the sme musical level as Hendriks. I hate his mantra of "don't blame the white man for nothing."This is totally bogus The white man is to be blamed for many, many things and this is a fact. My main point is that Wycliff comes off like Oprah, Barak and most other elitist blacks who do not accept the true nature of white people vis-a-vis black people and other peoples of color, because the "door was opened for the few of them to come thru." The majority of us are kept out. I was waiting for the opportunity to express my feelings about Wycliff and I knew the opportunity would come because he is not genuine or authentic. He is an opportunist who got his black wake-up call like all who think like him will eventually get from white amerikka.
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By: Fia on 1/23/2010 9:11PM
Some of those who are submitting comments don't even know how to spell the mans' name! Wow! My people, my people (anyone belonging to the human race) W Y C L E F has as long as I've known of him, has expressed his views within his music and has voiced his support for as well as invested his own hard earned dollars into the Haitian community! What is wrong with people that they have to find something negative to talk about during a time when everyone should be digging deep within themselves to make a small difference? Why do we try to pull others down when we aren't doing anything to pull some up?!?!
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By: rasfanta on 1/24/2010 10:02PM
So what the master's name is not spelled right. It's about so much more.
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By: paul on 1/25/2010 10:46AM
Even though the Haitian people have protested in the streets against the US, we still came to their aid faster, and with more money and supplies then any other country. You would think President Obama would give his 1.4 million dollar prize money from his unearned Nobel Peace Prize to Haitian relief efforts. By the way, who did he give his money to? And no...We should not take in 2 million Haitian refugees here in America. I feel sorry for them, and I donated money to the relief effort, but we cannot take in that many under-educated, unskilled, non-English speaking people just to "feel good." Let us help them rebuild their country using modern construction methods. This will provide jobs and goods and services. First, let's get rid of their "President" because he is really a dictator.
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