WTF? Actor Gerard Butler (“300″) Makes Cameo At Michigan State Midnight Madness

Putting it in this section because nothing has been verified or no....I find the comments more interesting than the blurb. Wink

WTF? Actor Gerard Butler (“300″) Makes Cameo At Michigan State Midnight Madness

UPDATE: Apparently a bunch of people out there are butt hurt that I made the assumption that Gerard Butler received some sort of compensation for his appearance at Midnight Madness Friday night and subsequent attendance on the field for Michigan State’s football game Saturday. Even if Butler did pay his own way out there, last time I checked field passes to a football game weren’t free.

Oh wait, I get it. Michigan State’s mascot is the Spartan, Gerard Butler starred in a movie about the real Spartans (“300″), so flying him to East Lansing to make a cameo at MSU’s annual Midnight Madness was some great cross-promotion. Clever girl (Jurassic Park legend’s voice after he realized the V-raps set him up).

But one thing is for certain, Butler didn’t front the bill for his trip, which makes you wonder just how much that the university had to pay him for the courtesy appearance at the event. I’d venture to say that it was at least 10 stacks, if not more, and in this economy that money may have been better served elsewhere.

On the other hand, it is a small price to pay to get students and alumni juiced about the upcoming season, and the Sparta chant is pretty legendary.

http://jerseychaser.com/wtf-actor-gerard-butler-300-makes-cameo-at-michigan-state-midnight-madness/

Complete Loss of Marbles Number of posts : 1041 Registration date : 2010-03-30

Michigan State is a state-run school so they get taxpayer money. With the economy the way it is, I would be looking into if they school paid the money to get him there and how much. It is the public's money and it should be public record.

This has nothing to do with GB but personally, I don't think taxpayer money should be used to fund what is basically a pep rally with a celebrity. Over the years, government waste has become a big issue for me. No matter how much it was I agree it could have been better used to fund academics. I would be impressed if GB made a donation to the school's theater department. Well, I would be impressed if he made a donation to the school, period.

Complete Loss of Marbles Number of posts : 1041 Registration date : 2010-03-30

Interesting article on celebrity appearance fees.

http://www.bizbash.com/losangeles/content/editorial/15694_a-list_celebrities_still_fetch_top_dollar_for_appearances_brands_looking_for_more_integration.php

why would people be "butt hurt" because gerry was compensated to appear at the games? i'm assuming it must be those fans who think he's perfect and does stuff like this totally out of goodness of his heart?

Complete Loss of Marbles Number of posts : 1041 Registration date : 2010-03-30

The only problem I have with him being paid is the source of the money--whether it was taxpayer-funded school money or a private foundation or source. I would be very surprised if he wasn't paid.

ya know, kayanne, it's sad what taxpayer money goes to fund.

Complete Loss of Marbles Number of posts : 1041 Registration date : 2010-03-30

Amen! The problem now is that the media is more interested in what Paris Hilton is doing than looking into government waste and other real news stories. Unless it's exposed, it continues. I don't think this will be one of the biggest wastes of taxpayer money but it's sad to me that no one asks the questions anymore about where public money is going.

But I will reiterate that I have no problem with him being paid. It's the source.

If (and I stress "if" because we don't know anything for sure) the school gave him (or anyone else, for that matter) a large sum of taxpayer money to appear in that fashion, then I would absolutely and wholeheartedly have to agree with kayanne....shame on them! If the school took it out of private non-taxpayer funds (whatever that is) and the school was okay in footing the bill instead of using it for something else, so be it (it's their business if they would rather pay a celebrity than use the money for computers, teacher pay, etc.) If Butler did it on his own and without compensation, then kudos to him.

Since this seems to be a bit of an issue with some students and has now gone public, the school and/or Butler's camp need to release an official statement. If taxpayer funds were used in the manner the blogger is suggesting, the right thing to do would be to donate it back to the school. Butler would get a charity tax write-off and even more "adoration" from the MSU kids, the school (and taxpayers) would have their money back, and everyone would go home happy. Gerry probably doesn't really need the money, after all.

Complete Loss of Marbles Number of posts : 1041 Registration date : 2010-03-30

You said everything I was thinking better than I did DK. We'll see if anyone ever addresses the issue.

you are right, k. sadly.....our society cares much more about what celebrities are doing than real issues. it's unfortunate, and seems to me that nothing will change it. we just have to deal with it....and do what WE can in our personal space to make the world a better place.

Actually before kayanne brought it up, I had never really thought about the possibility of taxpayer funds being used. That sheds a whole new light on it. Privatized schools can do what they want, but when it comes to community tax dollars, it's a whole different ballgame (no pun intended).