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The South African
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The South African
Trump alleges illegal campaign payments to Beyoncé and Oprah
On 27 July 2025, Donald Trump publicly accused Beyoncé Knowles-Carter, Oprah Winfrey, and Reverend Al Sharpton of receiving illegal payments in exchange for endorsing former Vice President Kamala Harris's presidential campaign. Trump alleged on his Truth Social platform that the Harris campaign paid Beyoncé $11 million (R200.2 million), Oprah $3 million (R54.6 million), and Sharpton $600,000 (R10.92 million). However, no verified documentation currently supports these claims. The US Federal Election Commission (FEC) filings directly contradict the figures Trump cited, showing significantly lower and legally justifiable amounts for campaign-related services. According to FEC records, Beyoncé's company, Parkwood Entertainment, received $165,000 (R3.01 million) for a fundraising concert. The payment covered event production and not a personal endorsement. Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions produced a nationally televised town hall featuring Kamala Harris and received $1 million (R18.25 million) for the event. Campaign filings and New York Post reporting confirmed this figure. Meanwhile, the Harris campaign donated $500 000 (R9.12 million) to the National Action Network, founded by Reverend Al Sharpton. The Harris campaign publicly disclosed the donation but did not specify its exact purpose in official filings. No evidence links the payment to any endorsement. and PolitiFact state that such payments are legal if they reflect fair market value and are properly reported. Legal experts also confirm that no verified evidence supports Donald Trump's claim that these celebrities were paid to endorse Harris. Tina Knowles publicly stated that Beyoncé did not receive payment to support Kamala Harris. She stated on Instagram that her daughter covered all personal costs. Oprah Winfrey also responded to the allegations. She confirmed she received no personal payment from the campaign. Instead, Harpo Productions handled event staffing and production under a formal contract. Meanwhile, Reverend Al Sharpton's team addressed the controversy. They denied that he took payment for endorsement. They also explained that campaign funds supported community outreach and event logistics. Legal experts also confirmed the transactions were lawful. The payments were disclosed and reflected fair market value. Legal analysts have raised doubts about Donald Trump's recent calls for criminal charges against Democrats and celebrities who supported Kamala Harris. US campaign finance law permits payments to individuals or entities if campaigns properly disclose them, ensure they reflect fair market value for legitimate services, and avoid using them for personal benefit unrelated to campaign activity. However, legality may still depend on the payment's intent and context, as determined by the Federal Election Commission or the Department of Justice. According to FEC filings and public records, the Harris campaign paid Beyoncé's Parkwood Entertainment and Oprah's Harpo Productions for event production, not endorsements. However, no verified legal expert has confirmed that Trump's accusations meet the threshold for criminal prosecution. Let us know by leaving a comment below, or send a WhatsApp to 060 011 021 11. Subscribe to The South African website's newsletters and follow us on WhatsApp, Facebook, X and Bluesky for the latest news.
Yahoo
a day ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Beyoncé's COWBOY CARTER TOUR Breaks the Bank as Highest-Grossing Country Tour in History
Last Saturday night in Las Vegas, Beyoncé did not just end a tour. She ended an era. With a final, thunderous performance at Allegiant Stadium, Beyoncé officially closed the curtain on her history-making COWBOY CARTER TOUR, a 32-date spectacle that has now gone down as the highest-grossing country tour of all time. In true Beyoncé fashion, the final night was no ordinary closing show. The Queen Bey pulled every conceivable stop, inviting JAY-Z, Destiny's Child, and Shaboozey to join her for a celebration that will be studied in music history books and worshipped in pop culture archives for decades to come. And the crowd? Electrified. Allegiant Stadium's sold-out capacity let out a roar so deafening during the surprise guest appearances that it practically lifted the roof off the Las Vegas Strip. Crowning Glory: The Tour by the Numbers Produced by Parkwood Entertainment and promoted by Live Nation, the COWBOY CARTER TOUR wasn't just a concert. It was a global movement. In just nine cities across three continents, Beyoncé shattered records that have stood for years and in some cases, decades. According to Billboard, the tour: Grossed over $400 million, making Beyoncé the first woman and first American act with two separate tours to break that benchmark Extended her reign as the highest-grossing Black artist and the highest-grossing R&B artist of all time Broke 30+ stadium records across North America and Europe, including SoFi Stadium (Los Angeles), MetLife Stadium (New Jersey), Tottenham Hotspur Stadium (London), and Stade de France (Paris) A staggering 1.5 million+ fans attended across 32 sold-out shows. Each performance unfolded as a multi-sensory experience, nearly 3 hours long, featuring 42 songs, three flying stage props (including a mechanical golden horse and a convertible lowrider), and a custom star-shaped stage design outfitted with robots, pyrotechnics, and immersive lighting. The Final Rodeo: Las Vegas Lights Up Beyoncé's Las Vegas finale on July 26 was a cinematic climax to an already-unforgettable tour. The Beyhive had been speculating for weeks, and Beyoncé delivered on every rumor and dream. JAY-Z joined her for a steamy, soul-shaking performance of 'Drunk in Love.' Destiny's Child (yes, all of them—Kelly Rowland, Michelle Williams, and Queen Bey herself) took us back with a pitch-perfect medley of 'Say My Name,' 'Survivor,' and 'Lose My Breath.' Shaboozey, the genre-defying artist who featured on Beyoncé's Grammy-winning COWBOY CARTER album, tore the stage apart with his hit 'Spaghetti.' Las Vegas didn't just get a concert. It got a coronation. COWBOY CARTER: An Era-Defining Spectacle If Renaissance was a celebration of Black futurism and disco-drenched liberation, COWBOY CARTER was Beyoncé's rebellious reclamation of American music history. Fusing country, soul, rock, folk, and hip-hop into a fearless reimagination of Americana, Beyoncé crafted a show that critics and fans agree was one of the most ambitious live undertakings in pop history. GQ called the tour '(Once Again) A Reassertion of Beyoncé as Our Greatest Living Performer.' The Telegraph gave her Tottenham Hotspur Stadium show a rare five stars: 'Nobody in pop can touch her…Armed with monster hits and a veritable war zone of pyrotechnics, Queen Bey reigns supreme in London.' And she did it all while dressed in the most elaborate, expressive, and downright explosive fashion seen on a stage since McQueen's heyday. Fashion as Statement, Spectacle, and Soul Across the tour, Beyoncé wore custom looks by a museum-worthy roster of over 25 designers, curated by wardrobe leads Shiona Turini, Karen Langley, Ty Hunter, and Timothy White. The lineup included: Anrealage, Balmain, Burberry, Calvin Klein, Coperni, Diesel, Dolce & Gabbana, Ferragamo, Ferrari, Gucci, Loewe, Moschino, Mugler, Off-White (Ibrahim Kamara), Poster Girl, Ralph Lauren, Roberto Cavalli, Sacai, Schiaparelli, Stella McCartney, TELFAR, Versace, Vivienne Westwood, and more. Jewelry was sourced from rising talents like Shola Branson, and hair and makeup were a Cécred-fueled masterclass in Black excellence, executed by Neal Farinah and Rokael Lizama. The Hive, the Family, the Crew Beyoncé didn't go it alone. A 350+ member crew including her daughters Blue Ivy and Rumi Carter brought the show to life. Blue Ivy returned for limited appearances in 'BLACKBIIRD,' while Rumi took her stage bow for the first time, holding her mother's hand during the final show. Sixty-four fans were crowned 'Rodeo Royalty' for their show-stopping Western-inspired outfits. And the BeyGOOD Foundation committed over $3 million to local communities, including wildfire relief in California. The Business Behind the Magic Beyoncé's tour was also a masterclass in branding and partnership. Official sponsors and collaborators included: Marriott Bonvoy, offering VIP hotel packages across tour cities SirDavis, Beyoncé's award-winning whiskey, and the official spirit of the tour Cécred, Beyoncé's own prestige haircare line, activated via a chrome-wrapped Roadshow trailer and Ulta Beauty pop-ups Ulta Beauty, the tour's official beauty retail partner Vibee, curating deluxe concert experiences through hotel-ticket bundles and exclusive merch A Tour for the Ages. A Queen Untouchable. What Beyoncé accomplished with the COWBOY CARTER TOUR is not just statistical. It's spiritual. She reframed country music through the lens of Black womanhood, told stories that the genre has long excluded, and did it with elegance, fire, and a sky-high boot on the gas pedal. In an industry where superlatives often get diluted, Beyoncé once again proved she deserves every single one. History didn't just happen. She wrote it. The post Beyoncé's COWBOY CARTER TOUR Breaks the Bank as Highest-Grossing Country Tour in History appeared first on Where Is The Buzz | Breaking News, Entertainment, Exclusive Interviews & More. Solve the daily Crossword
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Trump demands Beyonce be prosecuted over fake payment claims
U.S. President Donald Trump has called for Beyonce to be prosecuted over false claims that she was paid to endorse Kamala Harris in 2024. In posts on his social media, Trump claimed that Beyonce was paid $11 million (9.4 million) for endorsing Harris at a campaign event in Houston in October 2024. Trump also took aim at talk show host Oprah Winfrey and civil rights activist Al Sharpton, claiming that the Harris campaign broke the law by paying for celebrity endorsements and demanding all those involved be prosecuted. 'Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying for people to endorse them,' Trump wrote on Truth Social. 'All hell would break out! Kamala, and all of those that received Endorsement money, BROKE THE LAW. They should all be prosecuted!' However, there is no evidence to support the claim that Beyonce herself received any payment related to the Harris campaign. There is also no U.S. law barring a campaign from paying for endorsements, provided that expenditures are publicly disclosed. According to federal campaign spending records, the Harris campaign did pay $165,000 (141,000) to Parkwood Entertainment, Beyonce's production company, for a campaign event production expense. A Harris campaign spokesperson told Deadline in 2024 that while they were required by law to cover costs connected to celebrity appearances, they did not pay the celebrities for their endorsements. Despite thorough investigation by media sources and fact-checkers, no evidence has ever been produced to support the claim of an eight-figure endorsement payment. In a February interview with right-wing TV personality Mark Levin, Trump vaguely described his source on the number, saying, 'Somebody just showed me something. They gave her $11 million… [for] an endorsement, I guess, because she didn't sing.' Claims that Beyonce was paid $10 million for her speech at the Houston rally circulated on social media shortly after the event, which were also disproven by fact-checkers. Tina Knowles, Beyonce's mother, took to Instagram in November to call the allegation a 'lie.' 'When In Fact: Beyonce did not receive a penny for speaking at a Presidential candidate Vice President Kamala Harriss (sic) Rally in Houston,' Knowles wrote. Beyonce's publicist, Yvette Noel-Schure, told fact-checking website PolitiFact in November that the endorsement payment claim 'is beyond ridiculous.' In May, Trump threatened to launch an investigation into celebrity appearances at Harris's campaign events, naming Beyonce and Oprah as well as Bruce Springsteen and Bono as 'unpatriotic 'entertainers'' on social media. None of the celebrities who endorsed Trump during his presidential run including Kid Rock, Jason Aldean and the recently deceased Hulk Hogan have faced calls for investigation.
Time of India
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Trump to prosecute Kamala Harris, Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey? US President reiterates explosive warning
US President Donald Trump has once again claimed that Oprah Winfrey and Beyoncé of taking millions of dollars from Democrats during the 2024 election in return for their endorsements. He has also declared that former Vice President Kamala Harris be prosecuted along with Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey and Al Sharpton, according to US media reports. Trump said that he was "looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats," claiming that the two A-listers had received $14 million from the party between them. Trump to prosecute Oprah Winfrey, Beyonce? The accusation follows a week of Trump's renewed interest in the Democrats' spending during the 2024 campaign. On Monday, Trump claimed that Beyoncé had been paid $11 million "to walk onto a stage, quickly ENDORSE KAMALA, and walk off" without doing any kind of musical performance. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Moose Approaches Girl At Bus Stop In Laguna - Watch What Happens Happy in Shape Undo 'I'm looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats, after the Presidential Election,' Trump began on Truth Social Saturday. 'These ridiculous fees were incorrectly stated in the books and records. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO.' ALSO READ: Happy Gilmore 2 declared a must watch by Taylor Swift with 13/10 review. The reason is totally expected 'Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying for people to endorse them. All hell would break out.' Live Events Kamala Harris campaign drew massive criticism over $165,000 payments to Beyonce's production company, Parkwood Entertainment, for an Oct. 26 Houston rally. The payment was made on November 19, weeks after Beyoncé endorsed Harris at a rally in Houston. Winfrey's production company, Harpo Productions, was paid $1 million for a live stream event she helped organize in Michigan. Harris' team also sent $500,000 to Sharpton's National Action Network, according to New York Post. Records from the Federal Election Commission do not show an $11 million payment from the Harris campaign to Beyoncé. Trump did not cite specific news reports in his post, and it is unclear where the $11 million figure came from. ALSO READ: Trump's Scotland tour to promote golf resorts has a shocking price tag for Americans, sparks backlash What Beyonce said at Kamal Harris rally Beyoncé said at a campaign rally for then-Vice President Kamala Harris in October: "I'm not here as a celebrity. I'm not here as a politician. I'm here as a mother—a mother who cares deeply about the world my children and all of our children live in, a world where we have the freedom to control our bodies, a world where we're not divided." 'Eleven Million Dollars to singer Beyoncé for an ENDORSEMENT (she never sang, not one note, and left the stage to a booing and angry audience!), Three Million Dollars for 'expenses,' to Oprah, Six Hundred Thousand Dollars to very low rated TV 'anchor,' Al Sharpton (a total lightweight!), and others.' Trump has peddled similar claims in the past. Last December, he alleged the Harris campaign paid the three for an endorsement, but cited slightly different figures. That time, he claimed Democrats sent '$11,000,000, $2,000,000, and $500,000 to get the ENDORSEMENT of Beyoncé, Oprah, and Reverend Al.' ALSO READ: 'Made me a meme': Ex-Astronomer CEO Andy Byron to sue Coldplay over viral kiss cam controversy. Chris Martin reacts 'Beyoncé didn't sing, Oprah didn't do much of anything (she called it 'expenses'), and Al is just a third rate Con Man,' he groused at the time. In May, Trump revisited the accusations as well, publicly asking how much the Harris campaign paid Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Winfrey and Beyonce. The Harris campaign previously addressed questions about the payments made to Beyonce's production company and denied paying for an endorsement. Beyonce's mother has also publicly denied reports that her daughter was paid up to $11 million to speak at the Harris rally. Winfrey has also previously insisted she 'was not paid a dime' to participate in the event with Harris, but instead had production fees covered by the campaign. The White House has not yet confirmed if it will be pursuing any legal action against the Democrats or the Harris campaign.
International Business Times
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- International Business Times
Trump Calls for Prosecution of Kamala Harris, Beyonce, Oprah Winfrey and Several Others Over 2024 Election Campaign Payouts
President Donald Trump demanded that former Vice President Kamala Harris be prosecuted, along with a few celebrities like Beyoncé, Oprah Winfrey, and Al Sharpton, over payments they allegedly received during the 2024 election. Trump alleged that Harris' campaign paid the celebrities millions of dollars for their appearances, claiming the payments were unlawful contributions meant to promote her unsuccessful presidential run. "I'm looking at the large amount of money owed by the Democrats, after the Presidential Election," Trump wrote on Truth Social Saturday, adding, "These ridiculous fees were incorrectly stated in the books and records. YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO PAY FOR AN ENDORSEMENT. IT IS TOTALLY ILLEGAL TO DO SO." Trump Attacks Harris Donald Trump X "Can you imagine what would happen if politicians started paying for people to endorse them. All hell would break out." During the 2024 election cycle, Harris' campaign faced backlash over several high-profile payments, including $165,000 to Beyoncé's company, Parkwood Entertainment, for a rally held in Houston on October 26. Oprah Winfrey's Harpo Productions received $1 million for coordinating a livestream event in Michigan, while Harris' campaign also paid $500,000 to Al Sharpton's organization, the National Action Network. Many Hollywood celebrities including pop icon Beyonce have supported Presidential campaign of Kamala Harris X In his Truth Social post, Trump mentioned different figures, though the source of those numbers was unclear. All three celebrities have previously shown support for Democratic candidates. "Eleven Million Dollars to singer Beyoncé for an ENDORSEMENT (she never sang, not one note, and left the stage to a booing and angry audience!), Three Million Dollars for 'expenses,' to Oprah, Six Hundred Thousand Dollars to very low rated TV 'anchor,' Al Sharpton (a total lightweight!), and others." Kamala Harris X "They should all be prosecuted! Thank you for your attention to this matter." No Stopping Trump Trump has made similar accusations earlier too. Back in December, he claimed that Harris' campaign paid the three celebrities for their endorsements, though he gave slightly different amounts. Kamala Harris at the Oprah Winfrey fundraiser YouTube At that time, he alleged that Democrats paid "$11 million, $2 million, and $500,000" to secure the support of Beyoncé, Oprah, and Reverend Al. "Beyoncé didn't sing, Oprah didn't do much of anything (she called it 'expenses'), and Al is just a third rate Con Man," he claimed at the time. Many of the musicians and artists who supported Harris chose not to perform at her campaign events last year, instead offering their backing in more conventional ways. In May, Trump brought up the allegations again, openly questioning how much the Harris campaign had paid Bruce Springsteen, Bono, Winfrey, and Beyoncé. Harris' campaign had previously responded to questions on the payment to Beyoncé's company, saying that the funds were not in exchange for an endorsement. Beyonce at Kamala Harris' Houston rally X Beyoncé's mother has publicly refuted claims that her daughter received up to $11 million for appearing at a Harris campaign rally. Winfrey has also said that she "was not paid a dime" for her involvement in the Harris event, explaining that the campaign only covered production-related expenses. According to Open Secrets, Harris' campaign raised a hefty amount of political funding, collecting $1.15 billion directly and an additional $843 million from outside groups. In comparison, Trump's campaign brought in $464 million, with an additional $989 million coming from outside sources, according to Open Secrets. Trump shared his Truth Social post while on a four-day trip to the United Kingdom.
