Times are tough for many due to the spread of coronavirus, including the father of pop superstar Lady Gaga and owner of several New York eateries.
The restauranteur, 64, recently created a GoFundMe account asking the public to donate $50,000 to cover his staff’s wages at Upper West Side spot Joanne Trattoria, and was immediately met with criticism from the masses. Restaurants across the world have been ordered to close their doors in an effort to encourage self-isolation and curb the spread of COVID-19.
“I’m doing the best I can but we had to close Joanne for the month. Our staff needs some help financial. Any help for our employees will be appreciated,” Germanotta wrote in a since-deleted tweet, according to Newsweek.
Before being removed, the GoFundMe page read, “As our doors remain closed longer than anticipated, our staff is finding it increasingly difficult to finance the daily necessities to keep them healthy, like groceries and insurance costs — to say nothing of rent, utilities, and other recurring bills.
“Our goal of $50,000 would cover our typical payroll for approximately 2 weeks, and 100% of the profits would go to our hourly workers to provide those necessary items like food, childcare, and medical expenses.”
While a nice gesture, critics immediately noted that his Oscar-winning offspring should be the one he turns to for help. The singer earned $39.5 million in 2019, according to Forbes.
“Lady Gaga is worth hundred of millions of dollars AND is part owner in her family’s restaurant. Yet her also wealthy father has just taken to Twitter to ask the public to help financially the workers they have stopped paying. What the f–k????” wrote Perez Hilton.
Reporter Laura Lyne added, “You’re asking people that are more than likely worse off than you to pay for your staff. Come on, you can afford to pay them.”
The MTA recently sought to evict Grand Central’s ArtBird and Whiskey Bar — also owned by Germanotta — after giving him two weeks from Feb. 27 to pay $260,000 in rent and fees.