$tar-athon for relief
At least $14.5 million was raised for hurricane relief Tuesday night, as Leonardo DiCaprio, Justin Bieber and other celebrities joined together during a telethon to help the victims of Irma and Harvey.
Celebrities manned phone banks as the hourlong special “Hand in Hand” benefit concert and telethon accepted donations intended for rebuilding devastated locations such as Houston, Texas, and the Florida Keys.
“Natural disasters don’t discriminate,” Houston native and pop queen Beyoncé said.
“They don’t see if you’re an immigrant, black or white, Jewish or Muslim, rich or poor . . . We’re all in this together.”
Bieber joined a small group of spiritual leaders for a short prayer for those affected by the storms. They asked for “compassion for all who are in need, no matter their background.”
Actor Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson added that in the aftermath of a storm, “it’s all about survival and coming together as one.”
Stevie Wonder opened the show with a soulful performance of “Lean on Me.” Musical artists such as George Strait, Tori Kelly, Usher and Darius Rucker also performed.
Other Hollywood stars in attendance included Billy Crystal, Barbra Streisand, Jay Leno, Cher, Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Sofia Vergara and Tyler Perry.