The Weeknd has donated to three nonprofit organizations committed to racial equality, and is urging his nearly 23 million Instagram followers to follow his lead. The Weeknd detailed receipts of $500,000 in donations he split between Black Lives Matter Global Network, Colin Kaepernick’s Know Your Rights Camp and National Bail Out, saying on Instagram: “Keep supporting our brothers and sisters out there risking everything to push for actual change for our black lives. Urging everyone with big pockets to give and give big and if you have less please give what you can even if it’s a small amount.”
The Weeknd also called on the major labels and streaming services in the music industry to give publicly to the Black Lives Matter movement. “To my fellow respected industry partners and execs- no one profits off of black music more than the labels and streaming services,” he wrote alongside a graphic features the logos of Universal Music Group, Sony Music, Warner Music, Spotify and Apple Music. “I gave yesterday and I urge you to go big and public with yours this week. It would mean the world to me and the community if you can join us on this.”
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