Children's Hospital Cancels Fundraiser Over Porn Star DJ

LOS ANGELES—It's hard to understand why charities return funds raised for them when an adult performer or company is involved, but they do. In this latest example of porn shaming, however, the entity disassociating itself from a fundraiser in  El Paso, Texas, is a children's hospital that is reportedly in dire need of money. Organized by Veterans Entertainment, the “Dance4Charity" fundraiser scheduled for Dec. 19 at the Plum City Lounge. But according to local channel KVIA.com in a story posted yesterday, "Cash-strapped El Paso Children’s Hospital is backing away from its participation in a local fundraiser after learning Monday that the special guest DJ for the event also happens to be an adult film star. ... The event features headline entertainment by DJ Jessie Andrews, who also is making headway in her other career path as an award-winning porn actress." All proceeds from ticket sales were to go to the El Paso Children's Hospital, along with toys collected at the event, but according to the article, "Not long after ABC-7 asked [Children’s spokeswoman Susie] Byrd for comment on the booking of Andrews, all mention of the event and her appearance on the Children’s Hospital social media accounts were deleted." Byrd also issued a statement to the statement, explaining, "This event was coordinated through the UMC Foundation without the consent of El Paso Children's Hospital. We have asked the UMC Foundation to immediately correct this by removing our name as a recipient." A UMV Foundation spokesperson in turn pointed blame at event organizer Veterans Entertainment, telling the station that Veterans asked "to use the Children’s logo on promotional materials to indicate the hospital as beneficiary of the event," but failed to indicate that Andrews would be DJing the event. "We would not have known who she was,” Knight told ABC-7, adding, “I don’t think that it was appropriate to have her for an event benefiting Children’s.” He was not quoted as explaining why it was not appropriate, but did add that they would work with Veterans in the future, "just with someone more appropriate for Children’s Hospital." Both Veterans Entertainment and Andrews subsequently replied to the disassociation by the hospital, Andrews was understandably peeved, tweeting yesterday, "I love music. I love to dance. I love to dj. And it's not a joke to me. I honestly love it. Who cares if I do/done porn? Let's get real. ALSO: Shame on anyone who judges me for what I've done. It's 2014. If I got hurt the hospital wouldn't turn me down." Good point. Later, she tweeted a photo of herself on a beach, giving both fingers to the haters, exclaiming, "Do what you love. Fuck everything else. Here's one for the haters." Shortly thereafter, she tweeted, "Society pretty much says that since I've done porn I can't do anything else in life that's respectable. Just kill me now why don't you." Tuesday, however, the talented performer posted to her Twitter account an image of a flyer for the upcoming fundraiser along with a statement issued by Veterans Entertainment. Rather than throw Andrews under the bus, as a local event organizer might be expected to do, Veterans did right by Andrews and expressed complete support for her. The statement reads in full, "Veterans Entertainment’s mission is to support charitable organizations and raise awareness through house/dance music events. Our event series, Dance4Charity, is centered around the organizations we aim to help. With this event, our intention was to donate all proceeds and host a toy drive to help brighten the children's holiday season. Jessie Andrews is a world famous DJ who is passionate about her music and she supported our mission and cause. The event will still be held and we will push to support a charity that would like us to help them. A person's past should not prevent them from doing a positive service for others, hopefully more organizations will recognize that." Amen.