Wyclef Jean has a funny way of coping with his reputation taking a hard hit last week. The 43-year old Haitian born entertainer and philanthropist came under fire for his charity Yele Haiti. The charity was set up following the devastating 2010 earthquake in Haiti but reportedly turned into a piggy bank for Jean and his associates.
Audits following the quake revealed that $9 million of the money raised was spent by Yele on salaries, travel, and office expenses. Yele’s questionable spending also includes paying Eric Warnel Pierre, Jean’s brother-in-law, over $600,000 for projects that were never completed and with a mysterious Florida company called Amisphere Farm Labor that has no record of even existing.
As of this month Yele Haiti has permanently shuttered its doors following the resignation of its chief executive, Derek Q. Johnson.
According to the New York Times, Johnson’s resignation came after Jean “declined to accept a settlement proposed by the attorney general covering the charity’s pre-earthquake activities.”
Wyclef Jean insist history will show the positive work he has done in Haiti through his organization. With that sad, the former Fugees rapper stripped down to briefs to celebrate his 43rd birthday.
“TODAY I AM 43 YEARS OLD! I look And feel 26! U cant keep a good Man down! Keep a smile when they want you to frown!”
Well, that’s one way of dealing with things.
