Everything Also Complain

From ‘ Money should have been put to better use’, 6 Nov 2010, The New Paper

(Sebastian Tan Gee How): While I have no issues with celebrities and ordinary people dressing up for Halloween fun, I am somewhat perturbed that hairstylist David Gan spent about $3,400 just for this purpose.

Does he know that this amount can feed a poor family in Singapore for months?

If I remember past news reports correctly, this is not the first time he has spent extravagantly on such items.

Though he is spending his own hard-earned money, I feel that Gan should spare a thought for the many poor people living in Singapore.

Perhaps he should look into doing more charity work or donating more to charitable causes.

Lady Gan Gan

Who the hell are you, Sebastian, to tell David Gan, hairstylist extraordinaire, what to do with his money? Not all celebrities need to be automatic philanthropists, or pull crazy stunts at charity shows and gesticulate to viewers to dial in 1800 numbers. Some celebs, like David Gan, just want to enjoy a lavish lifestyle because he feels he deserves it and the occasion calls for it. It’s no longer a question of taste, it’s a statement that goes ‘Hey world, I can do whatever the hell I want baby’, and just as it is his personal choice to look like a ragdoll in a petticoat, likewise it’s up to us whether we want to pay any attention to it or not. Why target him when there are so many rich people out there, celebrity or otherwise, who spend more frivolously, maybe less flamboyantly, than anyone would possibly know. Like the folks who buy English Premier League clubs, who buy front row seats for F1, who take business class flights to Bali, who splurge on airflown Iranian caviar, who collect antique cars, who buy new striped golf pants every month, who blow their savings at RWS and MBS? Shouldn’t all their excess money go to charity as well? Why bother with bling at extravaganzas like Star Search? Why not have our best actor nominees come on stage in pasar-malam pyjamas and snuggly slippers, since their thousand dollar wardrobes ought to all go into charity? He’s David Gan, not Gandhi, so unless he comes to a Halloween party with thousand dollar fresh roadkill draped over his shoulders, blood dripping everywhere, there’s no reason to sound the guilt alarm and remind us of what miserable  impoverished lives some people in our midst lead, especially when such tirades against how people spend money naturally begs the question: What exactly have you done for poor people yourself, Mr Tan? I think it’s safe to say complaining about someone’s Halloween costume isn’t doing shit really. More Halloween spoilsports here

Filed under: 2010, Dress sense, Festivals, Fun and games, Money Tagged: | david gan, festivals, halloween, Money