Hillary Clinton Campaign Says Katy Perry Donated Concert Time at No Cost

The campaign of Hillary Clinton says that Katy Perry donated her services to the campaign at no cost, with nearly $70,000 paid to her production company in December covering production expenses from a concert appearance for the candidate.

The Washington Free Beacon reported that the Clinton campaign paid Kitty Purry Inc., Perry’s production company, that sum in December for “event production.” Perry performed a concert for Clinton in Des Moines in October.

“Katy Perry has voluntarily donated her time and energy to the Hillary for America campaign at no cost, and we are extremely grateful for her support,” said Clinton campaign spokesman Josh

Schwerin. “In compliance with campaign finance rules, basic production costs have been paid for by the campaign. Any suggestions to the contrary are wildly off base.”

But the payment buzzed around the Internet on Friday, with the inference being that Perry got paid to perform or was cashing in on her endorsement.

In fact, Perry indicated she would endorse Clinton in 2014, when she met Clinton at a reception at CAA and later said on her Instagram account that she would even write a song for the former Secretary of State.

In the grand scheme of pop star salaries, $70,000 is a pittance. The campaign is under an obligation, though, to pick up costs at a certain point. Federal election laws allow volunteers to donate personal services to a candidate, but other costs they incur can be treated as in-kind contributions if not paid for by the campaign, and count against the $2,700-per-individual limit. Ultimately, it’s up to the campaign to decide if the return on investment is worth it. Apparently so: Perry is booked to appear with Elton John at a Clinton campaign fundraiser next month at Radio City Music Hall.