Stars Making A Change

It’s a tough time for everyone around the world as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to take the lives of loved ones while rendering odd job workers strapped for cash. Since its first discovery in Hubei province, China, the virus has spread like wildfire to over 183 countries and killed more than 80,000 people.

The outbreak has since revealed to us the relentless sacrifices of health care personnel, law enforcement officers, and other essential-services employees working around the clock to turn around things to normal.

Celebrities are too stepping in to put their privilege and stardom to good use with some donating Personal protective equipment (PPE) to medical workers and others, organising donation drives to those who have had their livelihood put to a halt. See how your ultimate biases are doing their part in giving back to the society.

#1 Lady Gaga

Yes. Queen Gaga managed to accumulate USD35 million with Global Citizen in just ONE WEEK to WHO's COVID-19 Solidarity Fund to help provide protective equipment to health care workers. To top it off, she announced a benefit concert will take place on April 18th to honour medical professionals. Can’t wait!!!

#2 Rihanna

The B*tch Better Have My Money singer literally wants people to have her money when her charitable foundation, The Clara Lionel donates USD5 million to a number of charities that are working to curb the pandemic. A few of many includes Direct Relief, Feeding America, Partners in Health, The World Health Organization’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund and the International Rescue Committee. *Salutes*

#3 BTS Suga

You can definitely count on K-Pop band, BTS to rally a donation drive with a fan base as strong as an army (literally, their global fan base is known as ARMY). When Suga donated 100 million won to the Hope Bridge Korea Disaster Relief Association, 11000 strong BTS fans followed suit by donating more than half a billion won. Many of them utilised their ticket refunds from the now-cancelled BTS’s Map Of The Soul tour to purchase relief goods for the needy.

#4 Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds

Hollywood power couple Blake Lively and Ryan Reynolds were one of the earliest celebrities to come to aid against the Covid-19 outbreak. The cheeky husband and wife took it to Instagram to announce that they were donating USD1 million to Feeding America and Food Banks Canada to help provide meals to those in need during the pandemic. Lively and Reynolds then donated $400,000 to four New York hospitals that were heavily impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. #STAN

#5 Justin Bieber

According to Harian Metro, singer and actress, Daiyan Trisha donated over RM7,000 to NGOs and vulnerable communities in Malaysia affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. She shared in an IGTV video that her social media accounts has been flooded with messages from individuals seeking financial aid and has since been feeling restless to help. She then shares a number of other charitable platforms for her followers to donate and show support for others who need in this time of distress. Yass girl!

There's no denying that the Covid-19 pandemic has brought out the true colours of anyone from your friends, families, bosses, Insta-famous, Hollywood celebrities to political figures. If this health crisis has taught us anything, it should be that we should put personal politics aside and instead, focus on reaching out a helping hand to those in need.

Watch actress Sara Ali and director Megat Shahrizal dish out their opinions on personal politics in the local art scene in Malaysia with host Denise Chan on this episode of Hello Whats The Feed.