Pras Michel, the rapper who co-founded The Fugees, was a no-show as the headliner for a 9/11 charity event in Hell’s Kitchen to benefit his own foundation.
His Hope for Them foundation also bounced a check to the venue, falsely claimed MTV sponsored the fund-raiser and failed to register the charity with state officials.
The group claims to minister to the poor in Haiti but distanced itself in promotional material from the country for fear potential donors would confuse it with the disgraced charity run by his cousin, ex-Fugees frontman Wyclef Jean, said a Hope for Them insider.
Jean’s Yele Haiti charity was shut after alleged mismanagement. It is under investigation by the state.
“Their whole basis is, ‘Don’t let anyone know that we’re from Haiti,’ ” the insider said.
Hope for Them was founded in 2011 by Haiti native Mike Jean, a record producer and songwriter.
Michel was listed as a board member on the group’s Web site early last week. By Friday, his name had disappeared, and Mike Jean told The Post the Grammy winner wasn’t a board member.
The event, at Stage 48 in Hell’s Kitchen last Sept. 11, was billed as “Fashion for Charity” to help New Yorkers. Tickets ranged from $40 to $2,000. In addition to a fashion show, Michel was to perform.
The well-established New York Cares charity was also brought in as a sponsor, the insider said.
MTV’s logo was prominently featured on promo material. But the insider and MTV told The Post the network was never a sponsor.
The only connection was event hostess Lenay Dunn, a former host of the MTV show “10 on Top.”
Organizers said Saturday that the event pulled in $6,000 but $5,600 went to expenses, with $1,100 for Stage 48 and $500 for NY Cares.
Hope for Them owed the venue $1,100 after patrons failed to cover a promised bar minimum, the source said. It bounced a check to the venue, which threatened legal action, according to e-mails from a Stage 48 staffer to Hope for Them.
Mike Jean told The Post the bill was paid late last week. Stage 48 refused to comment, but an e-mail indicated the tab had not been paid as of Friday afternoon.
He said Michel couldn’t perform because he had the flu. Mike Jean said NY Cares would be paid.
Correction: An earlier version of this article stated that “Michel said NY Cares would be paid.” That statement was made by Mike Jean, not Pras Michel.