Jean Smart Urges Networks to Forgo Airing Awards Shows, Donate to Victims

[archersangel]

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Hacks star Jean Smart has urged networks to forgo airing upcoming Hollywood awards shows and donate to the victims of the L.A. wildfires and firefighters

Comments

[selina_kyle]

The $83million dollars tied up in gift bags for Golden Globes winners and presenters would certainly help the cause right now.

Does a person really need a 3 night beachfront stay in Turks and Caicos valued at over $507,000? Or a $272,000 wine tasting and dinner in Bordeaux, France?

Those who sponsored or donated luxury items to the bags should instead put their time & money towards fire relief and recovery.

[steffi_333]

I read somewhere that most of them never even get used because they’re taxed or something? In which case the companies gifting them should defo put up if they’re willing to just give that money away anyway!

[silverstarry]

After making a comment about the gift bags, I googled to get more info and learned that there are usually around 70 items available and the celebs get to choose which ones they want to take because they get taxed on them.

The companies that provide the gifts pay a fee to the gift bag company in order to be included (on top of providing the items that are offered).

[steffi_333]

I also went and googled to fact-check myself and one company that provides the holiday-style gifts said in 21 years of doing it, no celeb had ever taken the trip offered

[silverstarry]

Haha, I'm glad I'm not the only one who felt the need to look into the gift bag situation. ONTD DOES read sometimes (and then does additional research)!

I'm guessing most celebs don't take the trips because no one wants to leave a party paying taxes for a trip that they might not end up taking?

The guy who does gifts for the Academy Awards and the Grammys said that Viola Davis used the gift voucher for a trip to Kauai and then posted about it, which is exactly what the vendors hope for. But even if the celebs don't take the trips, there is always press about what's in the gift bags so the vendors probably look at the $4000 fee as a way to get their name in those articles in the hopes that someone will decide to check out the hotel/resort as a result.