Beyoncé
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Beyonce’s spokesperson is responding to the allegation reportedly leveled by legendary singer Harry Belafonte that she doesn’t do enough to help the world with her star power. Beyonce recently paid a visit to the United Nations in New York City to help mark World Humanitarian Day on August 19 and pay homage to the work done by humanitarian workers. The singer also shot a music video for her song “I Was Here”; the clip will be released on August 19. Earlier this month, Beyonce and her husband Jay-Z were criticized by Belafonte for not doing enough social good with their celebrity status. Belafonte reportedly told the Hollywood Reporter “It is sad. And I think one of the great abuses of this modern time is that we should have had such high-profile artists, powerful celebrities. But they have turned their back on social responsibility. That goes for Jay-Z and Beyonce, for example. Give me Bruce Springsteen, and now you’re talking. I really think he is black.” Belafonte didn’t immediately return the Journal’s request for a comment. In response to Belafonte’s words, Beyonce’s representative emailed what she called “An abbreviated list of the unselfish work Beyoncé has done and continues to do.” The list included co-founding The Survivor Foundation “a multi-purpose community outreach facility in downtown Houston”; donating “100K in 2008 to the Gulf Coast Ike Relief Fund to aid Texas victims of Hurricane Ike”; performing in “MTV’s Hope For Haiti Now! Benefit in addition to making a generous monetary donation,” among many other charitable activities.