Actor Sean Penn Questions Wyclef Jean’s Motives
Musician Wyclef Jean formerly announced his intention to run for president of Haiti on CNN’s Larry King Live last night.
Wyclef’s only qualification to run for president of Haiti seems to be the fact that he was born there. But, as critics point out, Jean is rarely present on the island and he can’t even speak the native language: creole and French.
Jean, a classic narcissist who has been accused of misappropriating funds designated for Haitian relief, said: “Now that our country has toppled, it’s a chance to rebuild from the bottom on up.”
But not everyone is thrilled that he’s in the running for election.
Outspoken actor Sean Penn, who has lived in Haiti for the past 6 months helping to rebuild the earthquake ravaged Port au Prince, wonders aloud where Wyclef has been.
“What the Haitian people need now is a leader who is genuinely willing to sacrifice,” Penn said. “I haven’t seen or heard anything of him in these last six months that I’ve been in Haiti. I think he’s an important voice. I hope he doesn’t sacrifice that voice by taking the eye off the very devastating realities on the ground.”
Penn mentioned past allegations that Jean mishandled funds from his nonprofit organization Yele Haiti and used some of the money donated for Haitians.
“He claims he didn’t do it. That has to be looked into it,” Penn said. “I’ve been there. I know what $400,000 could do for these people’s lives.”
In addition to paying himself and a friend over $400,000 in donated funds from his charity Yele Haiti, Wyclef, who is married, also paid a mistress $105,000 with funds from the charity.
According to The Smoking Gun, the IRS recently hit Wyclef with $2.5 million in liens.
Related posts:
- Wyclef Jean lashes out at Sean Penn: “I have sweat in my blood”
- Sean Penn and Wyclef Jean bury the hatchet
- Bill Clinton Gives $500K to Sean Penn for Haiti (not to Wyclef)
- Is Wyclef Jean the Biggest Con Artist in Entertainment?
- Wyclef Jean Requests Prayers and Donations for the People of Haiti
22 Responses to “Actor Sean Penn Questions Wyclef Jean’s Motives”
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I like how Roland Martin was breakin all this down on twitter last night and the angle he was taking. Wyclef has been helping Haiti for yrs and the US has its own share of celebs running for office and winning. My co workewr who is Haitian loves that Wyclef is running.
I don’t know how I feel about this…but it’s not up to me, or the USA…it’s up to Haiti. And Wyclef does know how to speak creole…I remember seeing him translate what some people were saying on CNN. Also he has a whole bunch of songs that are in creole.
Last night I called my haitian friend and the first thing he said when he answered his phone was “Do you see my president on TV?” I was like…Barack is on TV? He’s said NO! Wyclef! I said…you want him to run AND win? He said yea, he likes him. I was very surprised at that. I think that this man is an opportunist, and he is just doing this just because he is a fame whore. Yes Wyclef has repped Haiti for years and he ha has done things for his people…but I mean come on…leave the race to the professional politicians that live there. The first thing that came to my mind when I was watching CNN was… “You know you have to live there if you win stupid….” We’ll see how this goes
I am sure he knows he has to live there and CA elected an actor as Gov so this isn’t anything new
I say let the people of Haiti decide and Sean I hope u asked all org where their money went cause it sure doesn’t look like it went to the ppl of Haiti either *sideye*
I questioned his motives as well…but at the same time, it’s up to the people of Haiti to elect who they want.
I’m with you Musiqal1, it’s just something about him but I’m not Haitian nor do I live in Haiti. He has done a lot for Haiti especially with awareness so if they want him to be President more power to him!!
I actually supported Wyclef until I saw him on Larry King last night. There is NOTHING presidential about him. Haiti deserves better than an inexperienced, uneducated, inarticulate musician with tax problems, who lives in America as their leader. What could he possibly do for them except make them look like fools to the world? And then when Sean came on and said he ain’t seen hide nor hair of Wyclef since shortly after the disaster I was done. If he is elected he will do what all the other leaders have done; rob Haitians.
I”m not wycelf fan by any means. This doesn’t have anything to do with the earthquake….There’s just something about him…I don’t trust him…
But i don’t know how i feel about him runnin for president. I mean, how much better or worse can he be than the presidents before him. That being said…being president is very serous business. Just being president is good enough qualification. I know its happened here in the states…but it hasn’t exactly turned out good in some cases lol. Being president shouldn’t be a popularity contest. Haiti had serious problems before the quake and their problems just multiplied when the quake shook. There are more ppl homeless, hungry, and just living in straight poverty. The election clef isn’t going to make that go away. Just ask uninformed blk folks who thought things were gonna get better for them when O got elected. I hear the idiots now complaining about how he ain’t do nothing for them…(mind u they aren’t doing anything for themeselves..ugh). Clef needs to look at the big picture..he can’t just wave a magic wand. I know he loves his country, and i’m sure he has vision for it….but its not goin to be easy no matter who they elect
Bird says:
I actually supported Wyclef until I saw him on Larry King last night. There is NOTHING presidential about him. Haiti deserves better than an inexperienced, uneducated, inarticulate musician with tax problems, who lives in America as their leader. What could he possibly do for them except make them look like fools to the world? And then when Sean came on and said he ain’t seen hide nor hair of Wyclef since shortly after the disaster I was done. If he is elected he will do what all the other leaders have done; rob Haitians.
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alot of people don’t wanna say that about him for some reason. Haitians love him though cuz he’s one of their own. Fact is Sean Penn was in Haiti long after everybody left.
Wyclef Jean is looking pretty suspect right about now…
Sean Penn???
starr says:
Bird says:
I actually supported Wyclef until I saw him on Larry King last night. There is NOTHING presidential about him. Haiti deserves better than an inexperienced, uneducated, inarticulate musician with tax problems, who lives in America as their leader. What could he possibly do for them except make them look like fools to the world? And then when Sean came on and said he ain’t seen hide nor hair of Wyclef since shortly after the disaster I was done. If he is elected he will do what all the other leaders have done; rob Haitians.
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alot of people don’t wanna say that about him for some reason. Haitians love him though cuz he’s one of their own. Fact is Sean Penn was in Haiti long after everybody left.
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*applauds*
I feel sorry for the people of Haiti if they think he is a good chose. If they can’t see a snake for what he is then oh well for them. SNAKE!!!!
I find his motives suspect. Singing in Creole and writing songs about Haiti is not ‘helping’ Haiti. I guess he got jealous when the mayor of Delmas in Haiti took money from the billions donated to build a palace. http://www.justnews.com/news/24223047/detail.html
“For every dollar donated of the $1.2 billion so far, 99 percent goes directly to aid organizations. Only about 2 percent has been released. The remaining 1 percent, or about $10 million, has gone to the Haitian government.”
Wyclef Jean is a phony. He collected the money and I’ve yet to hear anything done with his donations. Which part of Haiti has he helped? Haiti still looks the same; is he lobbying to call people out about the conditions in Haiti. Has he gotten the machines he said were required to remove rubble. I forsee another Arnold. Someone popular who wants to get into politics and don’t have a FOCUS which in the long run will hurt the people even more.
Instead of believing the hype, someone needs to ask him these questions: where is the money? What have you done for Haiti since receiving the donations?
Right on BIRD!
I feel the same way.
The other FACT is Wyclef has been in Haiti way BEFORE the earthquake how quick people forget #justsaying
Maybe Wyclef has been over here trying to see about his org and get it back on track. I am just not ready to throw him under the bus
Good for Sean and anybody else who has been on the ground helping.
I think Sean Penn should run before Wyclef #noshade
TinGgs dat make yah go HMmmmmmmmm…
Good morning all,
Nia and Bird thank you so much for your comments. I read the history of Haiti and it is disheartning to know that the people continue to be hoodwinked and bamboozled by corrupt government and a number of other things. I can’t believed that people have continued to unjustly exploit and captalize off of Haiti. Its time for us as the Diaspora to help one another because it seems like all of us have a lot going on.
I question his “motives” too
He stole money/misappropriated funds – WHAT POLITICIAN DOESN’T? Not that it excuses his actions, but it certainly doesn’t disqualify him running for president.
Haiti can’t get any worse, can it?
I forgot to says that I like Sean Penn’s activism – he will call you out, if he thinks you’re up to some bull! People should pay attention when he speaks.
The fact that he hasn’t been there in 6 months is crazy. I don’t trust him. If I was there I would elect Sean to run. The fact that he went there flaunting his wealth was disgusting.