Lady Gaga’s father shuts down GoFundMe following backlash for asking for $50K to pay restaurant staff’s wages amid coronavirus
Lady Gaga‘s father Joe Germanotta has shut down a GoFundMe page attempting to raise $50,000 to support his restaurant staff’s wages.
Germanotta got backlash online after he launched the crowdfunding campaign in response to being forced to layoff almost 30 employees at Joanne Trattoria this month. The restaurant was required to shut down to prevent the spread of COVID-19.
‘I’m doing the best I can but we had to close Joanne for the month. Our staff needs some help financial. Any help for our employees will be appreciated,’ Germanotta wrote in a since-deleted tweet.
Bold move: Lady Gaga’s father Joe Germanotta was slammed him for asking for $50,000 to support restaurant staff’s wages amid the coronavirus pandemic; pictured at his other New York restaurant Art Bird & Whiskey Bar
The father of one of the world’s highest paid musicians, worth an estimated $275 million, pleaded with fans to support his business during this ‘uncertain time.’
‘Our amazing staff is made up of primarily hourly workers who depend on our payroll, and who overwhelmingly live paycheck to paycheck,’ the GoFundMe page explained.
Additionally the organizer wrote, ‘Our goal of $50,000 would cover our typical payroll for approximately 2 weeks, and 100% of the profits would go to our hourly workers to provide those necessary items like food, childcare, and medical expenses.’
‘Our amazing staff is made up of primarily hourly workers who depend on our payroll, and who overwhelmingly live paycheck to paycheck,’ the GoFundMe page explained
Pushing through: The father of one of the world’s highest paid musicians, worth an estimated $275million, pleaded with fans to support his business during this ‘uncertain time’
After sparking ridicule across the internet, the page was shut down after raising only $541.
Among the critics was media personality was Perez Hilton, who tweeted, ‘Lady GaGa is worth hundreds of millions of dollars AND is part owner in her family’s restaurant.’
Germanotta’s attempt to raise funds comes less than two weeks after revealing he’s faced a 70% drop in business during the global health crisis.
After sparking ridicule across the internet, the page was shut down after raising $541 and Germanotta deleted his tweets asking for money
CriticsAmong the critics was media personality Perez Hilton who tweeted, ‘Lady GaGa is worth hundreds of millions of dollars AND is part owner in her family’s restaurant’
‘These kids have been with me for eight years … they’re kind of like my children at this point,’ he told FOX Business. ‘I intend to keep them on some type of stipend to keep them going.’
In addition to the burden Germanotta faces with Joanne Trattoria, the Metropolitan Transportation Authority is currently moving to evict his other New York restaurant, Art Bird & Whiskey Bar, from Grand Central Terminal.
Germanotta has refused to pay $260,000 in rent and fees at the location, as he claims the New York City homeless population is hurting his business.
