If I had the money, I would donate to just about any legitimate charitable organization, but after deep contemplation … I don’t think I’d donate to Kanye West’s GoFundMe campaign.
Before I continue, I should say — only if you’ve been living under a rock for the past two decades — that West is a hip-hop star and entrepreneur known more for his egocentric loquaciousness than his musical career.
If you need his character in a nutshell, it can be summed up in the following quote pulled from a BBC interview in 2013: “Rap is the new rock and roll. We the new rock stars, and I’m the biggest of all of them. I’m the No. 1 rock star on the planet.”
It says much of West’s modesty but little about his money-management skills … and that’s what I would like to discuss.
Debt, amongst other things, is due in part to recent unemployment, divorce or gambling addiction, not the mistaken investment of $46 million into fashion endeavors that failed before they ever hit the runway.
These include a line of high-end women’s wear line and another produced through adidas that took $16 million to get off the ground.
Meanwhile, a generous fan started a GoFundMe campaign to bring West out of debt so he could continue his quest for global dominance that wishes to invade every facet of human existence, from cars to clothes, from a “7 screen movie experience,” as he puts it, to emoticon autocorrect.
Whatever those are.
At any rate, the GoFundMe campaign seems like a legitimate way to help West until one realizes that by donating money to the $53 million campaign, other — arguably more important — campaign projects will go unnoticed.
So, what other undertakings could be funded instead?
In the past, successful GoFundMe campaigns have included campaigns to support school shooting survivors, assistance for double amputees and a recovery project for a mother and daughter who were victims of the Boston Marathon bombings.
Currently, Ellen DeGeneres is raising money for Spain Elementary School in Detroit, which is in desperate need of repairs, upgrades and supplies; likewise, there is a campaign for IHI International, an organization that has a mission to bring the world together to help vulnerable people but needs more than $4,000 for upfront costs.
There is also a GoFundMe campaign for victims of the recent shootings in Kalamazoo and their families.
I think it stands to reason that one should feel more compelled to donate to charities that ultimately benefit a large number of people in need rather than a single individual who wants to create more innovative pants and shirts to help line his pockets.
Though West has said he will not take a single dollar from the “Get Kanye Out of Debt” GoFundMe campaign, it still remains that there’s an active user taking donations when the money could be going elsewhere.
And, due to West’s unwillingness to accept said funds, the money will eventually return to each donor, which is far better than it actually benefiting a man who begged the executives of Facebook and Google to pull him out of the red via social media.
“Mark Zuckerberg invest 1 billion dollars into Kanye West ideas,” he wrote via Twitter. “Mark Zuckerberg I know it’s your bday but can you please call me by 2mrw … hey Larry Page I’m down for your help too …”
West’s inability to make wise financial decisions works hand-in-hand with his ostentatious behavior, and he may be the only one who can’t see this obvious problem in his business plan.
Nevertheless, to date, the GoFundMe campaign has received over $6,000 in donations, which is disheartening when Spain Elementary School, IHI International or the victims of gun violence could benefit from what would otherwise be a pittance in West’s eyes.
Regardless, I will not be donating to West’s GoFundMe campaign, nor will I be lobbying Mark Zuckerberg and Larry Page to come to West’s aid via Twitter. Helping his cause, after all, would be the truly irresponsible behavior.
