http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/8492058.stm

Now Haiti will have a reason to hate Simon Cowell.

I hate seeing celebrities getting involved with things like this - you can see them really struggling to make soundbite platitudes in front of the cameras

I did laugh at a GMTV cock-up this morning though, Vince Vaughan was on but the graphics at the bottom had him as Wyclef Jean... Still wasn't as good as John Seargent with 'Camp David' written onscreen below him though

It’s all part of Cowell’s self-promotion campaign.

Once upon a time, this kind of mass celebrity gathering for a charity sing along would have been focussed on the names taking place. Now it’s the person who put it all together. They’ll credit him for writing it next.

When Sir Bob put Live Aid together, he bankrupted himself in the process. I will be more impressed if Cowell made similar sacrifices. I certainly don’t think we’d have Cowell speaking to Brown in the way that Geldof spoke to Thatcter. And I wish I could find a clip of that on YouTube.

For a lot of the stars taking part they have the same motivations as well. Relaunch a career at the same time.

Saw that while eating breakfast, did make me smile a little. However I saw the news item for the single itself and the four artists it showed taking part were Robbie Williams and three x-factor winners. So the chance of me giving them any money kind of died on the spot. If I want to give money to a Haiti charity I'll give money to a charity. I don't want to be paying for Cowell's production line no-mark's PR in the process.

Jon

I have been making donations every time I make a payment on eBay. eBay are covering all the cost of processing the donation. So I have made a number of small donations without helping Cowell.

Well I'm in two minds about this one is the pervasive feeling displayed here of disdain for self promoting stars, the other half is telling me that I am being cynical and regardless of self promotion at least such a desire motivates them to spend time and money to accumulate money to help people in the gravest of need.

On balance I prefer them to do this regardless of motive.

What a gimmick.

+1