Celebrities ready to take fees for backing ‘charity’

FUNDRAISING: Documentary invents good cause and finds famous figures will take thousands for show of support

Nearly three-quarters of Britons have said they are less likely to donate money to a charity if it pays celebrities for their support, according to a new survey.

The poll was carried out for Channel 4’s Dispatches. The documentary team discovered that famous faces would take tens of thousands of pounds to show public support for a charity invented by undercover reporters.

Dispatches found that US reality star and former Olympian Caitlyn Jenner and football manager Harry Redknapp both accepted large fees to back a dummy charity, called Cleaning Up Plastic Pollution in Africa (Cuppa).

Celebrity booking agents told the programme that 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.

A lawyer for Redknapp subsequently 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...

“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.

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.”

A representative for MN2S said many of the stars who work with the agency “undertake charity work for free”, and 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.”

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

Picture: PA. In the spotlight: Harry Redknapp and Caitlyn Jenner.