Barbra Streisand hit up Sumner Redstone for a $1 million donation to support a women’s charity — but then stung the Viacom and CBS mogul by not showing up when he got his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The iconic singer had asked Redstone to give $1 million to the worthy Women’s Heart Center at Cedars-Sinai, which, according to its site, “[helps] women reduce their chances of heart disease through a preventive approach.”
Sumner donated the money and then, in return, asked Babs to attend his Walk of Fame ceremony March 30. But at the last minute the diva just couldn’t make it, leaving Hollywood insiders buzzing over her apparent snub..
“Sumner wanted the huge star to attend his star ceremony, and had expected to see her there after making his donation,” a source told Page Six, “he was upset that [Streisand] didn’t show up.”
“If someone gives you a million dollars and asks you to show up, you do it,” sniffed our source, adding, “But Sumner won’t ask for the money back — it is a wonderful charity.”
Those who did make Redstone’s ceremony were Viacom, Paramount and CBS brass including Philippe Dauman, Leslie Moonves, Brad Grey, Rob Moore and Doug Herzog and anchor Julie Chen, and top film producers Brian Grazer, Robert Evans, Arnold Kopelson and A.C. Lyles.
Reps for both Redstone and Streisand said she had been invited but had a previously scheduled recording session, and there were no hard feelings from the mogul.
“These were completely unlinked, separate [events],” a Viacom rep said, adding, “Mr. Redstone was pleased to support CedarsSinai and although Barbra wasn’t able to come he was fine with that. They’re friends and he invites her to lots of events.”
“It’s not true at all,” added a Streisand rep, who said she was unable to attend the Walk of Fame event because of a recording session for a new series of 12 Sony DVDs.