Sign in. It’s quick, free and it’s up to you.
An account is an optional way to support the work we do. Find out more.
POP STAR TAYLOR Swift has made a “generous” donation to a US charity that supports victims of sexual assault after winning a groping lawsuit against a former radio DJ, the organisation confirmed yesterday.
Joyful Heart Foundation, a national organisation working to transform society’s response to sexual assault, domestic violence and child abuse, declined to disclose the amount of the donation.
“I hope that Taylor’s very public experience – and her decision to speak out – not only helps empower other victims to speak up and take action, but offers them solidarity,” said its founder, the actress Mariska Hargitay.
I’m honored by her dedication and commitment to these issues, and I’m deeply grateful for her support of the Joyful Heart Foundation.
Charity CEO Maile Zambuto thanked Swift for her “generous investment” and said the singer’s actions “send a powerful message to survivors everywhere: you matter. What happens to you matters. And you are not alone.”
The 27-year-old Bad Blood songstress won her sexual assault lawsuit on Monday. A jury in a Denver federal court deliberated for four hours before allowing her complaint that David Mueller had fondled her buttocks during a photo op in 2013.
Swift, who was awarded a nominal $1 in damages, promised to donate to charities in the wake of her ordeal. According to Forbes she is worth $44 million (€37.45 million).
“I acknowledge the privilege that I benefit from in life, in society and in my ability to shoulder the enormous cost of defending myself in a trial like this,” Swift said in a statement thanking the court.
My hope is to help those whose voices should also be heard. Therefore, I will be making donations in the near future to multiple organisations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.
Hargitay starred as a police detective on Law and Order: Special Victims Unit, a drama about New York officers who investigate sexually related crimes.
She says one in three women report being physically or sexually abused by a husband or boyfriend at some point in their lives, and that someone is sexually assaulted every two minutes in the United States.
To embed this post, copy the code below on your site
I suddenly really like Taylor Swift.
@Banana Rama: Me too. She had been annoying me a bit but now I really like her again.
@Veronica:
And the fickle circle of celebrity fandom is complete
@DarkHorse: Indeed.
@DarkHorse: what have you done for humanity? Please we’re all ears.
@Deborah Behan:
Strange question seen as I haven’t criticized Ms Swift
@DarkHorse: I dont think Deborah understood
Taylor swift has annoyed me for a while now but she has been really brilliant throughout this whole situation. The fact that she only countersued for a dollar and then made a charitable donation says a lot about her character. Fair play!
@Laura Walsh: Says a lot about her bank balance also…well done Taylor. That fella must be a right sleaze
@p kilgannon: she does state in the article she is aware that she is not like most victims in that she could shoulder the huge cost to defend herself
Well done to Taylor Swift. Stopping a potential Jimmy Saville, how many women would not be in a position to go after a creep like this.
She’s worth a lot more than $44m. Her property portfolio alone is almost $100m. Conservative estimates put her at $300m.
@OU812: What? she’s successful? How dare she!
And she’s from a comfortable background? Well, that’s just totally unacceptable to a begrudger like me!!
@David Murphey: gimp
@Alan O’Rourke: Wha’?
@Alan O’Rourke: why are you calling him that name ? He was being sarcastic and pointing out her wealth has nothing to do with getting assulated. She admits herself that she was privileged to be in a position to defend and countersue
@David Murphey:
I’m not quite sure what you’re on about & suspect you are too.
@Alan O’Rourke: Name calling like a child in a playground. I’m embarrassed for you.
@Ian Walsh: lolz
He can fondle my buttocks for half a million.
@Pat Troy: I’d say you might have to pay him the half a million though. Taylor Swift on the other hand only countersued him for one dollar. ( only after he tried to sue her ). She only wanted vindication and justice!!
@Catherine Sims: well she doesn’t need the money in fairness..
@Toon Army: She never looked for money and it wasn’t about money but if if hadn’t been for her money this mans actions would probably have gone unchecked .
@Catherine Sims: lol
@Catherine Sims: you really hurt my feelings.
Mariska Hargitay is still playing Olivia Benson as the show is still running. She is Jayne Mansfields daughter too.
Have to say she handled this whole episode with class right from the word go and the charitable donation was the icing on the cake. Still doesn’t alter the fact that her music is absolute pop pap crap tough.
@Emmet Dillane: You may not like her music but millions of young people do and hopefully it will encourage anyone who is the victim of sexual assualt to come forward now. Women men and children anyone !!!
I’m delighted to see such a shift in attitudes. When I was a teenager it was very common to have auld fellas just slap your ass as you passed them on the street . Gardai would laugh at you if you complained too. The only warning you would get is that the auld fellas used to bless themselves before they did it. Sometimes if gave you the chance to run. That’s what was happening in public regularly!!! That was the 80s. Not all that long ago where it was funny to assault teenage girls. One auld guy didn’t realise I was with my mother one day and she just let rip on him. He got shopping bags full of tins beaten off his head. Then she started on him with the umbrella. No one else would stand up for you though. Horrible times !!!
@Catherine Sims: Blessing himself for his act of fornication that will see him hurled into an inferno upon death had he
Not all men are guilty. Just remember the miscarriage of justice in the Homer Simpson Gummy Bear case
have your say