Lady Gaga reportedly turned down $1 million offer to perform at RNC

A report from the Examiner alleges that the GOP was interested in Pitbull and Dolly Parton, too

Published April 1, 2013 10:26PM (EDT)

The Washington Examiner reports that the GOP, a party whose stance towards gays has been nothing if not fraught, approached LGBTQ icon Lady Gaga to perform at the Republican National Convention's Hispanic Leadership Network last August. Sourcing a lawsuit filed by GOP fundraiser American Action Network against production company Cater America LLC, the Examinar claims that Gaga was offered $1 million to perform. Dolly Parton and Pitbull were approached as well.

AAN's Pete Meachum told the Examiner that Cater America head Rob Jennings said, "See what it would take to get Gaga instead of Dolly."

From the Examiner:

"Jennings, whose company is being sued by AAN, was instructed by Meachum to try to make the offer to Lady Gaga more tempting by telling her it would be an event 'honoring women who run for public office.'

Meachum, who is a former aide to House Majority Whip Kevin McCarthy and is now chief of staff for Rep. Sean Duffy, R-Wis., wanted Lady Gaga to perform on Monday, Aug. 27, the evening of the convention's first official day.

'Also, tell them that $150,000 will go towards a domestic violence shelter," Meachum further instructed Jennings in an effort to make the offer harder for Lady Gaga to refuse.' "

The least surprising part of this story is that Gaga, Parton and Pitbull all refused. Looks like the GOP will have to settle for another Gaga tax parody until the singer changes her mind.


By Prachi Gupta

Prachi Gupta is an Assistant News Editor for Salon, focusing on pop culture. Follow her on Twitter at @prachigu or email her at pgupta@salon.com.

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