David Blaine Uses Magic To Raise Money For Haiti

Presto, chango! David Blaine is turning the Haiti tragedy into a self-promotional opportunity. Word on the street is that the magician will be performing 72-hours of non-stop magic in Times Square to raise money for the victims of the earthquake. He's working with the Red Cross, and will start his magical marathon tomorrow at 9 a.m. (at West 43rd Street and Broadway). Every little bit helps. If you spot him out there, send us your pics/video.

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By Jen Carlson in Arts and Events on January 14, 2010 6:15 PM

Comments [rss]

Brian

I was just in Times Square and David was there. A young man walks over and tells David that his Mom is in Haiti and he has not heard from her. David truly cared and took the man's contact information to get in touch with people on the ground. That is priceless and touched me, thank you David for what you are doing. I can't believe on here will discount it. He is in Times Square and working to raise money.

Also the Times Square security guard around him was a little annoying and pushy with the tourists, including pushing them on for photos telling one girl and this is a quote: "Don't worry I'm black and I'm gay"

Guest

i like the title. :)

TheMactastic

Ill donate again if he WONT come to Times Square.

asakasan

Gothamist can unload snark as soon as it donates money of its own to Haiti. So Blaine gets some promotion from his fundraising, so what? Haiti can use all the help it can get. Quit with the hipster cynicism, it's tiring.

theevilone

If it's his own money. Cool. If its him self-promoting to get others to give, then I find it sort of gross. That's one sleazy half-step from profiteering from the dead.

Snoopy

I believe if Velvet went out on the streets and worked a few hours she could raise twice as much money as David could in half the time. She can also take that bitch good looking ballerina with her and double the earnings.

The Man Bat

Amen, my Brother...AMEN!!! Velvet, if you are reading this..."call me". I will work you up one side and down the other.... Damn girl is FIIIIIINE!!

and yes you can bring your little ballerina friend.

thewildpansy

What the fuck is wrong with you people? The man planned something to make money for Haiti 2 days after the earthquake occurred and will be helping. That is GOOD.

justthinkin

I'm torn between seeing this as truly humanitarian and utterly self-promoting. Impress me, David, and raise the dead.

theevilone

The amount of money this guy must have, just shut up and write a check. You don't see Brangelina running a telethon; they ponied up a million bucks of their own money right away without any fanfare.

NannyState

He could raise money just by smelling like Haiti.

MrManhattan

If you could raise money for smelling like Haiti, I could take in several grand a day collecting at PATH stations!

thesg79

Everybody wants to do their part, this is how David can...makes sense (and cents). Kudos Mr. Blaine.

infomofo

My knee-jerk reaction is to call him an opportunistic prick, but after thinking about it a sec, I'd like to think that he saw the pictures that we all saw on the news and on the internet and is desperately thinking of ways that he can help.

If his stupid shtick raises money for Haiti, who am I to hate?

yomama

Agreed. Don't personally care for his shtick but the end justifies the means in this case.

NannyState

Why doesn't he go down to Port Au Prince and stand in the basement of an unstable structure for 72 hrs? With enough food and water for an entire neighborhood and no means of self-defense?