Is Wyclef Jean Yele Haiti Foundation a Fraud?


Haitian-American Wyclef Jean held a press conference in New York on Monday to defend against accusations that he has profited from his charity Yele Haiti. Since the massive earthquake that struck Haiti last Tuesday, Wyclef has called on the public to text "YELE" to 501501 to donate $5 to the Yele Haiti Earthquake Fund which has raised over $2 millions in just days.

"Yele's books are open and transparent. We have been given a clean bill of health by an external auditor every year since we started," Jean told reporters

He denied all accusations that he personally benefited for Yele Haiti and pointed out that he gave $1 million of his own money to the charity.

He referred all further questions on finances to the president of the foundation, Hugh Locke.

This was the second time in three days Jean has defended the charity.

Last week, The Smoking Gun released IRS forms filed by Yele Haiti that seem to show the nonprofit used donations to pay "the performer and his business partner at least $410,000 for rent, production service and Jean's appearance at a benefit concert sponsored by Yele Haiti. The foundation has filed tax returns for only 3 of the 12 years it has been active and filed those forms only this past August.

Wyclef has not addressed specific financial question in his recent statements but defended himself by saying: "Accusations have been made about me and about Yele. I'm not at all sad by this because my daddy told me the day would always come where you would always be challenged by doing good work."

Seems like daddy should have also told him make sure you keep your books straight and file your taxes.


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