A law firm in Michigan is slapping the 'Born This Way' singer with a federal class action, accusing her of misrepresenting charitable donations from the sale of 'We Pray for Japan' wristbands.
- Jun 27, 2011
AceShowbiz - Lady GaGa has been accused of ripping off her own Japan relief charity, and is facing a $5 million lawsuit for it. A class action suit has been filed against the "Born This Way" hitmaker by a law firm in Michigan. In the suit, 1-800-LAW-FIRM alleged that the singer is pocketing proceeds from the sales of the "We Pray for Japan" wristbands.
Shortly after earthquake and tsunami devastated Japan in March, GaGa marketed and distributed the bracelets through her website with claim "all proceeds go directly to Japan relief efforts". She charged $5 for the wristbands, another $3.99 for shipping and handling, and $0.60 for taxes. The law firm, however, claimed that she jacked up the shipping costs.
An attorney for the firm, Ari Kresch, said, "I'm suing Lady Gaga simply to hold her accountable for giving the money that she was raising for charity to the cause that she was trying to raise it for." Firm partner Alyson Oliver, who filed the suit, additionally claimed that the "Bad Romance" hitmaker refused to fully disclose how much of the money from the sales goes to the Japanese victims.
"When we tried to communicate with the defendants in this lawsuit, all we got was, 'well, some of the money is being retained, but we don't really know how much'," Alyson told a FOX news station. "If the money were going to the right place rather than into the defendant's pocket, then I hope that our effort helps that."
