14 DAY TRIAL // Rapper Wyclef Jean and his foundation Yele Haiti are currently under serious fire after The Smoking Gun unveiled documents showing Wyclef used the money the organization raised to pay for a recording studio, one of his performances and for other expenses that are reportedly completely unjustifiable. In a press conference the other day, the star addressed these allegations, stressing this was not the time for this, but rather to offer help to the victims of the recent earthquake, as CBS News informs.
First off, Wyclef addressed his people, telling them not to lose hope as Yele will be sending people on the ground as soon as possible to help those in need. Fighting back tears, he then addressed the media, trying to set the record straight on the recently surfaced allegations. It is shocking that, in a time like this, people would come up with this kind of stories, when the focus should be something else: helping the people who are now suffering after the devastating earthquake.
“I told them that I don’t cry for myself, that I cry for them. I tell them just... give us... a little more time. We’re going to be back on the ground on Saturday and we are going to be back on the ground every week to help the situation. […] We need to migrate at least two million people. I give you my word, if I tell them to go, they will go. But they need somewhere to go to,” the star said.
“I started the charity with my own funds. I wanted to make sure the Yele wouldn’t just be a foundation. [I wanted Yele] to be on the ground in Haiti because that is the only way that I could be effective to the Haitian people. Have we made mistakes before? Yes. Did I ever use Yele money for personal benefit? Absolutely not,” Wyclef Jean continued by saying, in reference to the recently surfaced allegations.
Those interested in helping the victims of the earthquake in Haiti and who choose to do so via Wyclef Jean’s Yele Haiti, can do so by texting “Yele” to 501501 and will donate $5 to the foundation, if they’re in the US. Residents of other countries looking to help whichever way they can should see here for more details.