Lady Gaga’s dad, Joe Germanotta, deleted a GoFundMe page previously set up to help the employees of his New York City restaurant who were unemployed due to the coronavirus.
The page, reportedly created 33-year-old singer’s father, Germannotta, has been deactivated following a torrent of criticism against the owner asking for financial assistance for his nearly 30 employees at his establishment, Joanne Trattoria, per US Weekly magazine in a piece published Monday. (RELATED: REPORT: Coachella Potentially Rescheduled To October Due To Coronavirus Fears)
Lady Gaga’s dad, Joe Germanotta, is under fire for asking people to donate to a GoFundMe page he established for employees of Joanne Trattoria. Here’s why: https://t.co/FdCokv3TXk
— Us Weekly (@usweekly) March 30, 2020
The goal of the fundraising campaign was for $50,000 and before it was taken offline, the campaign had raised a total of $541. (RELATED: REPORT: How ‘A Star Is Born’ Put Stress On Bradley Cooper And Lady Gaga’s Relationship)
A description on the page explained that the 64-year-old owner was looking to help cover the payroll of his staff who have been out of work for two weeks due to the outbreak of COVID-19, per Newsweek.
“Our amazing staff is made up of primarily hourly workers who depend on our payroll, and who overwhelmingly live paycheck to paycheck,” the crowdfunding page read. “As our doors remain closed longer than anticipated, our staff is finding it increasingly difficult to finance the daily necessities to keep them healthy, like groceries and insurance costs – to say nothing of rent, utilities, and other recurring bills.”
“We’re asking our Joanne Trattoria community of neighbors, friends, family and fans: If you’ve enjoyed us in the past, have had a friendly encounter with someone on our incredible service staff, or even if you hope to enjoy us in the future, we’d be so appreciative if you would consider donating to our staff to help them through this difficult time,” it added.
The message concluded, “We hope to open our doors as soon as is safe, and welcome you all again with a smile and some meatballs. Stay safe and healthy.”
Germanotta even tweeted about the fundraising effort before he deleted it after people called him out for not using his own wealth to help employees.
“I’m doing the best I can but we had to close Joanne for the month,” Joe tweeted. “Our staff needs some help financial. Any help for our employees will be appreciated.”
Not long after the post, people slammed the request, noting that his daughter, a famous singer worth millions and the “wealthy owner” himself could help cover the cost, as noted by Page Six.
“Please, as if your family couldn’t afford paying their salary,” one person tweeted. “This is ridiculous.”
A journalist added, “You’re asking people that are more than likely worse off than you to pay for your staff. Come on, you can afford to pay them.”
You’re asking people that are more than likely worse off than you to pay for your staff. Come on, you can afford to pay them.
— Laura Lyne (@lauralyne) March 28, 2020
Lady GaGa is worth hundreds of millions of dollars AND is part owner in her family’s restaurant.Yet her also wealthy father has just taken to Twitter to ask the public to help financially the workers they have stopped paying. What the fuck???? https://t.co/2K8MA05Crz #Coronavirus pic.twitter.com/PqADshe8Be
— Perez (@ThePerezHilton) March 28, 2020