Giving back. Celebrities may be beloved by people around the world, but it’s not a one-sided relationship. Stars such as Taylor Swift, Nicki Minaj and Keith Urban adore their fans right back, going out of their way to make sure their supporters know that they are appreciated through acts of kindness.
For some, like Drake and Katy Perry, that means getting in some serious face time with their admirers, while others help out in more creative ways: J.K. Rowling lent her signature for an uber-personal tattoo, while Thor’s Chris Hemsworth gave a traveling fan a lift to his destination.
In 2021, single mom Angelia Cantrell set up a GoFundMe page, asking for assistance to keep her home after she lost her husband to COVID-19. As she continued her pleas, Kim Kardashian quietly donated $3,000 to the cause.
“When I saw the donation, I literally fell to the floor in tears. I shared my GoFundMe link with several celebrities, including Supernatural TV stars Alaina Huffman and Lisa Berry who donated as well, just simply asking them to share,” Cantrell told Entertainment Tonight at the time. “I never dreamed that celebrities would take notice of our story, let alone donate. … Words cannot describe how blessed and thankful we are. This, by far, has been one of the biggest miracles God has given.”
Cantrell further discussed the Skims mogul’s generosity: “During this difficult time in my life, I prayed daily and continuously kept my faith throughout. When I received the donation, I had hours left to gather the money and pay my landlord to avoid eviction. Words cannot describe how blessed and thankful we are. This, by far, has been one of the biggest miracles God has given.”
Less than a year earlier, the Keeping Up With the Kardashians alum announced via social media that she wanted to “spread the love” by sending 1,000 fans $500 in December 2021. She wanted to help those who were “struggling, worried about how they’re going pay rent” or “put food on the table” amid the holiday season.
The KKW Beauty founder is not the first celebrity to give back to her devoted fans. Shaquille O’Neal once paid for a young man’s engagement ring for his bride-to-be after they met in a jewelry store.
“Whenever I leave the house, I just try to do a good deed,” the professional athlete revealed during an April 2021 episode of NBA on TNT. “I’m just trying to make people smile, that’s all.”
Scroll through for more stars who have taken the time to say ‘thank you’ to the ones who made them famous.
After tearfully announcing her Las Vegas residency had to be canceled just one day before the show opened, Adele made sure fans already in Sin City had a special trip. Her show's gift shop at Caesar's Palace gave out free souvenirs to ticket holders and Adele was in the storefront via FaceTime to chat with attendees, Vulture reports. Cliff Lipson/CBS
Ahead of the release of Cruise’s Top Gun: Maverick sequel, he sent a surprise screening of the film and matching shirts to the Ohio State University Marching Band after noting he was a fan of their Top Gun-inspired halftime show, according to Twitter footage in December 2021. Oliver Contreras/UPI/Shutterstock
In November 2021, the Jungle Cruise star surprised a military veteran named Oscar by giving him his own custom-detailed truck. "My original idea was to give away the Porsche Taycan, that I drive in the movie, Red Notice. So we reached out to Porsche, but they said no," Johnson explained in an Instagram caption. "But I still said, yes 😉 I’ll do one better. I’ll give away my personal custom truck as the gift." After realizing that the truck was now his, the fan fell to the ground in shock. "What the heck is happening?" he exclaimed. "Get outta here, bro!" Johnson replied, "You do a lot of good for people, man." Eric Charbonneau/Shutterstock
"When my tire blew in small town Tennessee who stopped to help? LUKE BRYAN," a fan captioned a video of Bryan changing her tire via Instagram in October 2021. "He deserves all the praise." In a second post, the fan shared a photo of the performer with her and her daughter, writing, "My life is made." Image Press Agency/NurPhoto/Shutterstock
In October 2021, the "Rain on Me" songstress invited a young fan named Alba on stage to sing with her during one of her Las Vegas shows. The duo held hands as they belted "La Vie en Rose," which the Grammy winner memorably performed in 2018's A Star Is Born. Before they hit their final note, Gaga directed Alba to look out at the audience — she had previously been staring at her heroine with adoration. Christopher Polk/AP/Shutterstock
After single mom Angelia Cantrell — who lost her husband to COVID-19 — set up a GoFundMe page for assistance in keeping her home, Kim Kardashian quietly donated $3,000 to the mother of four in September 2021. "When I saw the donation, I literally fell to the floor in tears. I shared my GoFundMe link with several celebrities, including Supernatural TV stars Alaina Huffman and Lisa Berry who donated as well, just simply asking them to share," Cantrell told Entertainment Tonight at the time. "I never dreamed that celebrities would take notice of our story, let alone donate. … Words cannot describe how blessed and thankful we are. This, by far, has been one of the biggest miracles God has given." Willy Sanjuan/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
The Jungle Cruise actor surprised fans on a Hollywood bus tour in August 2021. Johnson drove up beside the vehicle, which he explained stops in his neighborhood, and asked the riders, “Hey, you guys know where I can find The Rock?” He shared the fans’ reactions via his Instagram and TikTok accounts. "Well, that was fun. It's a good way to start off my Saturday,” he said after introducing himself to everyone on board. Courtesy of Dwayne Johnson/Instagram (2)
The NBA legend paid for a fan's engagement ring during an April 2021 visit to Zales. "I seen a guy come in, he was just so shy," the athlete said in an episode of NBA on TNT. "He was saying, 'Hey, how much do I owe to pay off my ring?'" The young man initially was reluctant to accept O'Neal's generous offer, but the basketball star assured him that he was happy to do it. "Whenever I leave the house, I just try to do a good deed," he said of the encounter. "I'm just trying to make people smile, that's all." Gregory Pace/Shutterstock
The Lemonade singer paid tribute to 13-year-old fan Lyric Chanel with an a cappella video after Chanel passed away in March 2021 following a battle with Anaplastic Ependymoma, which is a form of brain and spinal cord tumors. Beyoncé sang “Love on Top,” “Halo” and “Brown Skin Girl” in the clip, titled, “Rest in Peace.” The video also featured images and videos of the young fan throughout her life. “@beyonce thank you so much,” Chanel’s mother wrote via Instagram, sharing the heartfelt clip. “I’m so grateful that Lyric was able to hear you sing to her before she left this world💙 #yhungchanel.” Joel C Ryan/Invision/AP/Shutterstock; YouTube (inset)
Emerson Weber, a young girl from South Dakota, revealed on The Kelly Clarkson Show in February 2021 that she received a personalized letter from the “Cardigan” singer after taking the time to write a letter to postal workers. Earlier in the coronavirus pandemic, the tween went viral after her father took to Twitter to share how his child uniquely expressed her gratitude to her local postman for sending out her many letters. The delivery person received a decorated note from Emerson that he later shared with his supervisor. From there, Emerson began receiving letters from dozens of postal employees across the U.S. Emerson’s sweet gesture eventually caught the attention of Swift — a person who the teen frequently gushed about in her various mailed notes, according to her dad’s Twitter thread. “I got a letter from Taylor Swift. It was so personal and she handwrote it. She decorated the envelope with this [painting]. She spent so much time and put so much of her heart, just like I like to do, in her letter to me,” Emerson explained to Kelly Clarkson. “It’s amazing and I absolutely love the letter.” Michael Hurcomb/Shutterstock; YouTube
The Skims founder announced in December 2020 that she wanted to “spread the love by sending $500 to 1,000 people” via social media. She asked fans to send their $cashtag to her on Twitter with the hashtag #KKWHoliday so she could send money to assist with those who are “struggling, worried about how they’re going to pay rent, put food on the table, or a gift under the tree for their kids.” Matt Baron/Shutterstock
The Canadian actor surprised a 9-year-old Deadpool fan, who had just moved with his family and feared he wouldn’t make new friends, with a sweet birthday message in November 2020. The fan’s parents set out to make their son feel loved on his special day by asking for birthday cards through Facebook, which led to many around the world — including Reynolds — stepping in to help. “I relate to your story a lot because I also went to a new school,” the actor said in the sweet video. “I remember how alone I felt and unseen I felt. When you feel suffering and when you feel bad about something, you say it's because you feel like you're the only one. You're not alone.” Courtesy Tarnjit Parmar/Twitter
In November 2020, the Game of Thrones alum took to Instagram to share clips from a FaceTime call he had with a young Aquaman fan who is battling cancer. “So I just wanted to say thank you to the community, friends and family on Instagram for reaching out and showing me this beautiful boy Danny who is going through chemo and has cancer,” he captioned the post. “I saw his video online that made me want to get in touch and FaceTime him and spend some time talking to him.” Momoa then urged fans to help support Danny through GoFundMe. He asked for Warner Bros. to send the ill fan Aquaman’s trident too. Courtesy Jason Momoa/Instagram
The Migos rapper visited three polling locations in Atlanta in November 2020 to hand out food to those waiting to vote in the presidential election. Offset partnered with The Lincoln Project and AXSD Media to feed the masses, TMZ reported. The “Clout” rapper, who voted for the first time in the 2020 election, got help from local food trucks, the Slutty Vegan and Big Dave’s, to inspire voters to stay in line and make their voice heard. MediaPunch/Shutterstock
Rudd made headlines in October 2020 when he handed out cookies to voters waiting in line in Brooklyn. Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP/Shutterstock
The “Golden” crooner surprised a fan named Theodora in October 2020, leaving a heartfelt message at her home after his car broke down and he spent time there while she was out. “My car broke down on your street and your dad’s friend kindly let me wait at your house with a cup of tea,” Styles wrote in a letter for the fan, which was later posted on social media along with a photo of the singer feeding the fan’s goldfish. “I’m devastated that we missed each other. Looking forward to meeting you soon. Treat people with kindness. All my love, Harry.” The former One Direction singer added: “P.S. I fed the fish.” JM Enternational/Shutterstock
The actor shocked a Louisiana family in July 2019 when he stopped his car to pose for pictures and autograph a sign they had left for him in their front yard. "We knew @KeanuReevess_ was filming up the street so my son said we need to make a sign that says ‘You're breathtaking,’” Stacey Hunt wrote on Twitter. "A car stopped and there he was!! He actually stopped!" Albert L. Ortega/Getty Images
The List alum and the former Chicago P.D. star made two One Tree Hill fans’ days when they helped Alison Briggs propose to her now finacée Cydney Childers. Burton tweeted about the experience on February 24, 2019, writing, “It was a HUGE honor today to be a part of this beautiful couple’s engagement!! Alison, thank you for including @SophiaBush and me. We are so happy for you lovebirds!!!!! Xoxoxo.” Courtesy Sophia Bush/Instagram
Urban took some time before performing at his concert in Toledo, Ohio, in October 2018, to serenade 25-year-old Marissa English in the hospice ward of Mercy Health St. Vincent Hospital. The four-time Grammy winner sang “Blue Ain’t Your Color” a cappella to English, who was suffering from an inoperable cyst on her brain and cerebral palsy, at her bedside. He later dedicated the song to her on stage at his show. Courtesy Laura Szyperski Biel/Facebook
Chicago musician Scott Hildebrand was in for quite the surprise in October 2018 while abroad in Australia when he decided to hitchhike two hours to Byron Bay — and got picked by none other than Hemsworth and his trainer, Luke Zocchi! Not only did the Thor actor offer Hildebrand a lift, he took him all the way to his destination by chopper. “When hitchhiking leads to a helicopter ride with Thor,” the singer/songwriter wrote on an Instagram documenting the experience, adding, “Thanks, guys!” Hemsworth also shared the video of their flight on Instagram, writing, “Picked up a hitchhiker, wasn’t a serial killer which we were stoked about and just happened to be a kick ass musician Scott Hildebrand.” Getty Images
Plenty of celebrities visit their sick fans in the hospital, but the “Roar” singer took things next level in August 2018 with front-door service. Perry made a house call to longtime fan Grace Moores in Australia while the then 8-year-old was recovering from brain surgery. “When Katy arrived out front, Grace was a bit shell-shocked. She was just in awe, the smile on her face was just priceless,” the little one’s mother, Marie Moores, told The Advertiser. According to Marie, Perry asked to see Grace’s room and performed three songs of Grace’s choice. “She’s definitely walking on cloud nine this morning,” Marie told the publication at the time. “It’s definitely given all of us a bit of a lift.” Getty Images
The Kylie Cosmetics founder gave her biggest fan, Johnny Cyrus, a very special birthday present in May 2018. Cyrus, who regularly attends Jenner’s events and has a tattoo sleeve in her honor, was gifted with a $2,000 Louis Vuitton Apollo monogram backpack by the Keeping Up With the Kardashians star at her brand’s pop-up store in San Francisco. Getty Images
The Stranger Things star made superfan/California student Damaris Fregoso’s senior pics a memorable affair when he showed up in the flesh to take them with her in January 2018. Damaris had asked how many retweets it would take for him to show up, and the actor responded with "25k". She delivered, and Harbour kept his promise. Later that month, he agreed to officiate a wedding in Springfield, Illinois, for a fan who garnered 125,000 retweets. Getty Images
Sofia Sanchez was in for the surprise of a lifetime when Drake responded to a video request the then 11-year-old heart transplant patient sent to the rapper from her hospital room at Lurie’s Children Hospital in Chicago, asking him to visit. “You asked me to come, I’m here,” the “In My Feelings” singer said as he walked into her room in August 2018. Drake then proceeded to sing “God’s Plan” to Sanchez, ask for her autograph and outfit her with swag. David Becker/Getty Images
Swift loves her fans so much, she has not only been known to bake them sweets and send them gifts, she actually helped Stephanie Waw — who was once pregnant and homeless — buy a home. “My mom told Taylor [about my situation] and just asked her to make me feel special at her show I was attending in Manchester,” Waw wrote on the singer's’s app, The Swift Life, in December 2017. “After the show, Taylor took us back to her dressing room where she told me, ‘Stephanie, You’ve been in my life for a long time and you’ve never asked me for anything. You could have reached out and I would have helped you. But you didn’t. Your mom told me.’ [Taylor] told me she wanted to give me the money back for my ticket that night. What she actually did was help us buy a home and all I needed for my baby. She told me, ‘I want you to be able to enjoy your little girl, not have to worry about all this stuff.’” Less than a year later, Swift also helped a fan named Sadie Bartell, who was struggling to pay her mother Laurie Bartell’s medical bills after she fell into a coma. The Grammy winner left a $15,500 donation on her GoFundMe page. “Today [Taylor] read my family’s story online and out of the goodness of her heart donated to us," Bartell wrote on Facebook of Swift in October 2018. "She shows up every time I need her. She always has and she always will. I wish that I could express how much it means to me that ANYONE has helped my family over the years, let alone Taylor. She is the light at the end of the tunnel and is truly the best thing that has ever happened to me." Getty Images
It’s not uncommon for celebs to allow their fans to propose to one another onstage, but Hanks took things to a whole new level in November 2017, when he actually popped the question for his fan at a discussion for the Big actor’s book, Uncommon Type. "Here's Ryan's question, and it's for Nikki Young,” Hank read to the crowd. "Nikki, will you marry me?" Getty Images
The “Masquerade” crooner offered to help more than 30 studious fans with their college tuitions and student loans in May 2017. “Show me straight A’s that I can verify w/ur school and I’ll pay it,” she responded to a fan who asked if she would pay for his tuition. She also opened the door for others to send in financial requests for school writing, “Who wants to join THAT contest?!?! Dead serious. Shld I set it up?” Getty Images
In October 2016, Lorde helped a family of strangers make repairs to their leaky home in Auckland, New Zealand, with a generous GoFundMe donation. The family’s home had been set up with high gates, safety-glass barricading and window safety locks to care for an autistic 10-year-old named Rheegan. Lorde (real name Ella Yelich-O’Connor), donated $10,000 to the family, writing, “Sending best wishes and love to you and your parents, Rhee.” Getty Images
The British author lent her famous handwriting to a survivor of sexual assault and bullying named Kate who wished to get words from Rowling’s Harry Potter series — “expecto patronum” — tattooed on her wrist for protection in the wordsmith’s handwriting. Rowling provided her penmanship via Twitter along with a special note for Kate. “I love that you’re working to heal and protect yourself,” she tweeted in May 2016. “You deserve this. I hope it helps.” Getty Images
The Greatest Showman actor wasn’t about to let a fan who chased the Disney alum down to get a Snapchat pic — and broke his own phone in the process — walk away empty-handed. “@dopekid_23 actually smashed his phone while chasing me for a snapchat — that's dedication so I'ma hook you up with a new phone my brother!” Efron wrote on Facebook in May 2016. He added: “To all my fans out there holdin it down - love and respect. And be careful with your phones.” Getty Images
Franco helped a teenage fan mend a broken heart in October 2013 when he gave a pep talk to newly dumped Greta Pasqua — the broken-hearted daughter of a homeowner who had lent his digs out for a photo shoot The Disaster Artist star had been booked for. Franco also snapped a pic with Pasqua and encouraged her to post it on social media to get back at her ex. "He said, 'Post it on Facebook and tell him to eat his heart out!'" a source told Us Weekly at the time.
from Celebrity News – Us Weekly https://ift.tt/2PmdqEd
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