Vice President Kamala Harris' failed presidential bid cost her millions in celebrity endorsements, a former campaign official said Friday.
“We don't pay. We've never paid artists or performers,” said Adrian Elrod, a senior adviser and senior spokesperson for the Harris campaign. told the deadline.
The Harris campaign held several star-studded concerts in the days leading up to her loss to President-elect Donald Trump on Election Day.
Lady Gaga, Katy Perry, Christina Aguilera, Ricky Martin, Megan Thee Stallion, Bruce Springsteen, Jon Bon Jovi, 2 Chainz, Mumford & Sons and more have joined Harris' camp in an apparent effort. He was named among the artists and music activities that demonstrated his talent. To bring low-propensity voters to the polls.
Grammy-winning artists Beyoncé, Cardi B and Jennifer Lopez also appeared on the stump for Harris, but did not perform, upsetting some Harris supporters.
Elrod explained that under Federal Election Commission rules, the Harris campaign must pay fair market value for “incidental expenses” of the performance, such as wages for band members and producers.
“We have followed religiously in this campaign, there are laws that we have to follow,” she said.
The series of election eve concerts alone is said to have cost the campaign $20 million.
Earlier this week, TV talk show icon Oprah Winfrey, who also campaigned for Harris and hosted the vice president's virtual town hall, joined her personally at a “Unite for America” event in September. He dismissed speculation that the expenses had been paid.
The Washington Examiner reported last week that the Harris campaign paid Winfrey's Harpo Productions $1 million in October.
Winfrey and her production company claim that the funds were used to pay for set design, lighting, cameras, microphones, crew, producers and other costs necessary to host the live town hall event.
“We never paid that person a fee,” Elrod said.
