Seth MacFarlane donated $1 million to The Entertainment Community Fund to help provide financial assistance for industry workers during the strikes.

  • magnetosphere @beehaw.org
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    1 year ago

    We’re all used to seeing huge numbers thrown around in the news, so it’s easy to get jaded. Take a minute and think about the size of that donation, though. One MILLION dollars.

    For many of us, that’s more than we’ll earn in a decade - and that’s ignoring taxes.

    I hope some other big names follow suit.

    • xyzzy@lemm.ee
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      1 year ago

      I mean this is great and all, but the guy is worth $250-300 million, so let’s not go overboard. The median American net worth is $120,000 (think home, car, a little savings, etc.), so this is like donating around $400 for most people. Perhaps even less so based on where people’s money actually goes (daily expenses versus investments). Not nothing, but not exactly a big sacrifice.

      The real problem is all the other wealthy celebrities worth tens or hundreds of millions who aren’t contributing anything. It shouldn’t just be up to a small handful.

      • magnetosphere @beehaw.org
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        1 year ago

        Well, yeah. Others should donate, but this is the first one I’ve seen a story about. I think it’s better to encourage people then ask why they aren’t doing more.

        • xyzzy@lemm.ee
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          1 year ago

          I hear your point of view, but I’m going to double down on mine. Here’s a list of celebrities that have donated:

          Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson George and Amal Clooney Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck Matt Damon and Luciana Barroso Ryan Reynolds and Blake Lively Leonardo DiCaprio Julia Roberts Hugh Jackman and Deborra-Lee Furness Arnold Schwarzenegger Meryl Streep Nicole Kidman Oprah Winfrey

          This group has donated about $6 million since May 1. The Rock and MacFarlane both donated $1 million, so that leaves $4 million between the rest of them. Many of these people are literally billionaires, so I mean, I’m OK saying they can do more to support their fellow actors and crew. $6 million doesn’t go very far against LA or NYC rents.

          https://www.npr.org/2023/08/02/1191667978/sag-aftra-foundation-donations

          • magnetosphere @beehaw.org
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            1 year ago

            Okay. Thank you for providing that list and those figures. Now I have a much better understanding of where you’re coming from.

            I see your point. Four million between the rest of those folks isn’t a lot.

            Edit:

            The fund has distributed nearly $3 million to over 1,500 people affected by the strikes, according to the organization. It is now giving out $400,000 to $500,000 a week, compared to an average of about $75,000 in the first half of 2023, it said.

            At that rate, the six million will be gone in no time. Wow.