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'Worse than Being Quarantined': Upcoming 'One World' Concert Mocked Relentlessly

Ellie Bufkin
Ellie Bufkin  |  April 06, 2020 4:05 PM

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. 

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"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. 

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. 

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.

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. 

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. 

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.