LOS ANGELES: Pop superstar Lady Gaga has been sued over sales of her wristbands for Japan’s earthquake relief efforts in a class action which claims that not all the proceeds went to victims as she had promised.
Michigan legal network 1800LAWFIRM also alleges that Gaga and other companies involved in the sale and marketing of the $5 (R34) white and red “We Pray for Japan” wristbands overcharged buyers on delivery costs and “artificially inflated reports of total donations”.
“While we commend Lady Gaga for her philanthropic efforts, we want to ensure that claims that ‘all proceeds will be donated to Japan’s earthquake’ are in fact true,” according to Alyson Oliver, an attorney for 1800 LAWFIRM.
“Our intention via this lawsuit is to uncover any improprieties committed by Lady Gaga and appropriate the full donations assumed to the victims in Japan.”
The federal class-action lawsuit was filed on Friday while the singer was in Japan for a benefit concert for victims of the March quake and tsunami.
Gaga is reported to have donated about $3 million to Japan disaster relief through sales of the wristbands and other ventures. – Reuters