Harvey Weinstein revealed an interesting story while promoting “12.12.12,” the Hurricane Sandy benefit concert film.
According to the movie mogul, ‘Twilight’ star Kristen Stewart raised $500,000 for the Sandy relief effort by simply sitting down with a Middle Eastern Prince for 15 minutes.
The identity of the prince wasn’t revealed but this is how Weinstein told the story to the NY Times:
“How much?”Ms. Stewart asked, according to Mr. Weinstein.
He checked with the prince, who proposed a figure, which Mr. Weinstein promptly raised to $500,000.
The money was delivered in advance, in cash, Mr. Weinstein said.
Mr. Dolan [James Dolan, the chairman of Madison Square Garden] locked it up in Madison Square Garden, he said. “And Kristen sits with the guy for 15 minutes.”
Weinstein also mentioned that Led Zeppelin was asked to play the Hurricane Sandy concert, explaining that such an appearance from the band’s remaining members would have raised a significant amount of money.
Sadly the idea fell through because one of the members refused to participate.
Weinstein explained that after approaching Robert Plant, “We get an OK from Plant if Page will do it … Jimmy Page doesn’t want to do it.” Weinstein quipped: “Jimmy Page’s lawyer … Maybe he works for Satan? Maybe he is Satan?”
“Undeterred, Weinstein asked Hillary Clinton if she could lend her considerable diplomatic skills to the cause,” reports The Huffington Post. “She didn’t think that she’d be the best person to talk Led Zeppelin into performing, so she recruited her husband Bill.”
“Bill talked to the group and Jimmy told him no,” Weinstein told reporters in Toronto, reportedly while barely concealing his rage.
As a last ditch effort, Weinstein asked President Barack Obama for help — but it was still a no-go.
But it wasn’t a total loss.
The concert, which was held at Madison Square Garden in December, went on to raise $30 million for relief efforts.