Taylor Swift and Ariana Grande have spoken publicly about their donations to COVID-19 relief organizations like Feeding America and the World Health Organization, encouraging their fans to do the same. But the two singers are also making smaller donations directly to fans struggling financially as the coronavirus pandemic has caused them and many others to lose work. Salons, gyms, and retail stores throughout the country have been closed as governments have urged citizens to social distance, avoid large gatherings, and slow the spread of COVID-19.
TMZ was told by sources that for the past few days, Grande has “been communicating on the regular with her fans on social media, who’ve opened up about financial struggles, like not being able to pay upcoming bills, because they’ve lost their retail or service industry jobs for the time being.”
The outlet wrote that “in at least 10 instances, maybe more, Ariana had connected with fans who’ve lost their jobs and sent them a cash donation via Venmo.” Those donations have ranged from $500 to $1,500.
Swift hasn’t said anything publicly about her donations, but the fans she helped have revealed Swift reached out to them on social media after seeing their posts explaining their struggles. Swift has given several fans $3,000 each to help them make rent and pay other bills.
Days ago, Grande and Swift encouraged those financially able to help donate to organizations in need. “While we are social distancing and doing the best we can to protect one another, my heart hurts for the small businesses, individuals and families affected by all of this,” Grande wrote on her Instagram Story. “I am supporting the organizations below and if you are able to, you should too.” She then listed several organizations:
Swift wrote on her Instagram Story, “The World Health Organization and Feeding America are some of the organizations I’ve been donating to. If you have the ability to, please join me in donating during this crisis.”
You can donate to Feeding America here, WHO’s COVID-19 response fund here, GiveDirectly’s COVID-19 fund here (money goes to the hardest hit families),the Opportunity Fund’s Small Business Relief fund here, the American Red Cross here, and Italian Red Cross here.