IMMACULATE COLLECTION OF STARS
Here's the EXACT reason I started writing this blog... for events like this one that went down last night in NYC. We'll talk about the party in a second, but first here's a rundown of who was there: Madonna and daughter Lourdes, Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes, Rosie O'Donnell, Chris Rock, Jerry Seinfeld, Gwyneth Paltrow, Jennifer Lopez, Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale, Vince Vaughan, Rihanna, Demi Moore, and the list *seriously* goes on...
Madonna hosted a fundraiser called A Night to Benefit Raising Malawi & Unicef - it was to lend more profile to her Raising Malawi organization which works to revitalize the lives of orphans in Malawi. There are tons of celebs in New York right now for Fashion Week so Her Madgesty brought them all to her party at the United Nations for the fundraiser sponsored by GUCCI who just opened a great big new store on Fifth Avenue.
Here's some pics from the Red Carpet as all the stars arrived...
"Madonna brings me out. She has been a very close friend of mine for a very long time, and she asked me to attend," said Gwyneth Paltrow, in pink Gucci. "I think she asked me over dinner one night. She has done so much good." "I admire what she's doing, and I admire what UNICEF does," said Tom Cruise. "Her office called me. I've known Madonna for years. I really admire her." Added his wife, Katie Holmes, in a scarlet Alexander McQueen: "We have friends here we're looking forward to seeing." "It's a very worthy cause, and Madonna is a very good friend. We're supportive of each other's life endeavors. It's something that means a lot to her and to me," said Rosie O'Donnell, who added that Madonna called and invited her. "We're friends and friends call each other." She wasn't wearing Gucci. "I believe it's an Eileen Fisher. I don't believe Gucci makes a size 18," said O'Donnell. "I don't shop there. It's very expensive."
Amy Adams turned up with designer Narciso Rodriguez. Is she the rebel of the night for not wearing Gucci? "I guess so!" she laughed. Singer Rihanna, who performed her hits Umbrella and Don't Stop the Music after dinner, is a big fan of Madonna. "Hell, yeah. She is unbelievable." Madonna, meanwhile, greeted her friends and hung out with her daughter. At one point, the rock superstar introduced Lola to Vince Vaughn: "This is my daughter, Lola," she told the actor, who affably chatted up the child and said hello before telling his friend he needed a drink. During an introductory speech later in the night, Madonna proved that even celebrities have trouble calming the nerves. "I don't think I've ever been more nervous in my life," she confessed during a speech before the dinner. "It would be much easier for me to perform in a soccer stadium filled with 80,000 people than stand up here and host this event."
When a fan screamed, "We love you," Madonna murmured a thank-you. That's some high-profile love. Jennifer Lopez, due any day with twins, rocked a Gucci gown and 5-inch heels. How she's feeling? "Very happy! Feeling really good," said Lopez before she gave the typical fierce poses in front of the cameras. Cruise was spotted hugging Chris Rock, who discussed his home just outside the city. Lucy Liu told Holmes how beautiful she looks. Later, Rock chatted up his Bee Movie co-star Jerry Seinfeld. Brooke Shields talked about her desire to meet Djimon Hounsou — and then went up to him and posed for a photo with him, girlfriend Kimora Lee Simmons and starlet Camilla Belle. Is that the biggest perk of being a former Oscar nominee? "Absolutely!" Hounsou said. "It makes you feel like a king. But really, truly, it's a great event, and I'm happy Madonna went out of her way to raise money for this. It's a country much needing of help," said the Blood Diamond star. Nearby was Demi Moore, hugging Cruise and warmly greeting Holmes. Later, during dinner, Moore talked with Lola about switching schools. A pregnant Gwen Stefani and husband Gavin Rossdale headed toward the cocktail party, and she told him, "I'm just following you." Despite the star wattage, the focus was on the cause. "I think you can go out and support a lot of things that are fun-spirited, or a personal project that you're working on. But when it's something global and life-changing and important like this — this is what we should be talking about out in the world," said Drew Barrymore, accompanied by Justin Long. "There's a lot of fluff, a lot of gossip, a lot of fodder that's sort of on people's minds, and I'd much prefer these types of subjects to be encompassing their brains and hearts, so this is why we came out". But stars can be just like us. Surrounded by all this fabulousness, Barrymore and Long had one thought before dinner: finding the potty. "I think I have to pee," the actress announced to her boyfriend. (THANKS)
Of course, as with anything MADONNA touches, she's met with controversy. Last night's event has already been criticized for being held at the UN headquarters because Raising Malawi is adminstered by the Kabbalah Centre in Los Angeles. The fundraiser is also under scrutiny for its sponsorship by GUCCI who some feel got involved simply to promote its brand. Not so, says Madonna:
"I don't really pay any attention to that. I am grateful that Gucci has underwritten this event - that's all that matters to me - their generosity. There's always controversy surrounding anything that involves change," she told Reuters. "I want to put Raising Malawi on the map. I want credibility as a philanthropic organisation. I want to inspire people. I don't want them to just write me a cheque: I want them to give me a piece of their heart." (Thanks)
I love Madonna! I'll never, EVER, understand why people are so intent on tearing down the good work she does. I have no doubt she is 100 million % sincere in what she says and what she does. Get over it, people! She has taken it upon herself to use her name and fame to prop up AN ENTIRE POPULATION OF ORPHANS AND THEIR HOME COUNTRY!
