The World Health Organization announced on Monday plans to launch a large music event that will be simultaneously telecast across three major television networks and several online streaming platforms. "One World: Together at Home" will air on the evening of April 18 and will feature a variety of musical celebrities hosted by late-night show hosts Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, and Stephen Colbert.
The event, said to be produced in collaboration with pop star Lady Gaga, the World Health Organization, and Global Citizen, promises to "celebrate" healthcare professionals working under duress during the global Wuhan Coronavirus pandemic. Gaga said in a Monday morning teleconference with the WHO that she has assisted in raising $35 million for the global health organization, which is currently the subject of sharp criticism over their relationship with China.
The third involved party, Global Citizen, is a nonprofit New York-based organization that states its primary objective as ending "extreme poverty" across the world by 2030. In recent weeks, Global Citizen has teamed up with several high profile pop singers and the WHO to share their message and call for activism.
"As we honor and support the heroic efforts of community health workers, ‘One World: Together At Home’ aims to serve as a source of unity and encouragement in the global fight to end COVID-19,” Global Citizen co-founder Hugh Evans said of the event. “Through music, entertainment and impact, the global live-cast will celebrate those who risk their own health to safeguard everyone else’s."
Global Citizen summarizes their message of action as advocacy that seeks to influence world leaders to make policy changes that could impact poverty in their respective nations. They are regarded as a left-wing organization.
"One World: Together at Home" is slated to feature music singing stars Billie Eilish, John Legend, Chris Martin, Paul McCartney, Lizzo, and event leader Lady Gaga. Despite the chart-topping success of many of the involved artists, however, the reception was less than exuberant following the announcement.
Thank god I cancelled my cable 5 years ago so I don't have to be exposed to this crapfest.
— Samuel Culper 722 (@politiwars) April 6, 2020
Some noted the event being hosted by three white men may not appear to represent the message of uniting as "One World," to fight the spread of the virus.
Ugh, three white men co-hosting. This is not representative of "One World."
— Nell Scovell (@NellSco) April 6, 2020
Others saw the WHO teaming with a liberal nonprofit and using the language "One World," was evocative of sentiments shared by those advocating for a new world order, or one global government.
To those who will be tuning into "One World" please always remember that the United States of America will always be a sovereign nation...
— Kash Jackson (@KashJackson2018) April 6, 2020
Others, perhaps jaded by a panned celebrity rendition of John Lennon's "Imagine," just didn't seem excited to see an evening of global messaging by famous musicians, the WHO, and Global Citizen.
Wow, this may be worse than being quarantined.
— Prof B has left the building (@BProfB) April 6, 2020
That date happens to be my birthday. I’ll consider a power outage a gift from God... https://t.co/GYStGRaieS
— James Woods (@RealJamesWoods) April 6, 2020
JUST announced: CBS, ABC, NBC coming together to air
— JiMnM (@JiMnM_) April 6, 2020
"ONE WORLD: TOGETHER AT HOME"... hosted by Colbert, Kimmel and Fallon...
????
pic.twitter.com/0qSBcjyvWs
Everyone crapped on Gal Gadot's inane sing a long, but this upscaled version of that has publicists behind it to tell us before it airs how awesomely great it already is... #oneworld
— Don (@Ramonzmania) April 6, 2020
I’d rather watch videotape of my own death. https://t.co/dhQhcspeps
— David Marcus (@BlueBoxDave) April 6, 2020
Others seemed moved by the motivation behind the event set to take place in under two weeks but weren't thrilled by the line-up.
kinda wish there was a better lineup but I'm glad she did this. ??
— . (@uneedtocumdown) April 6, 2020
Lady Gaga indicated in her Monday telephone call with the WHO that the money already raised to host the event, which will be aired on NBC, CBS, and ABC, and streamed across nearly a dozen online providers, would likely be the only money raised by the concert. She said that music and entertainment would provide viewers with a sense of solidarity but would not ask for donations.
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