I know I’m a right cynical ****, but I always think of the likes of Bono. Lecturing everyone on giving to charity, but structuring your personal finances so as to ensure you keep hold of ALL your mountains of dosh, while making little or no contribution to the society you actually live in. And judging by what came out over the whole Jimmy Carr business, I wonder how many of those imploring us to give will have similar tax set-ups?
I too think that Bono is a monumental tosspot, however I think there’s a danger of conflating two separate things – personal social responsibility on the part of the celeb and the wider issue of publicising a charitable event/issue, which will be best achieved by a celeb.
I suppose the thing to do is judge it on the merits of the cause, not of who’s asking you to donate (or is appearing in a related pop video…)