Bruno Mars Donates $1 Million to Aid Flint Water Crisis Victims

Bruno Mars gives back.

On Saturday (Aug. 12), the pop superstar surprised fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills in Michigan when he announced that he would be donating $1 million from the night’s ticket sales to help victims of the ongoing Flint water crisis.

“I’m very thankful to the Michigan audience for joining me in supporting this cause,” said Mars. “Ongoing challenges remain years later for Flint residents, and it’s important that we don’t forget our brothers and sisters affected by this disaster. As people, especially as Americans, we need to stand together to make sure something like this never happens in any community ever again.”

Mars and Live Nation donated funds from the “24K Magic World Tour” concert to The Community Foundation of Greater Flint, which addresses various issues surrounding the water crisis.

Over the past couple of years, controversy has surrounded Flint after the city’s water supply was contaminated with lead. In October 2016, an internal watchdog agency determined that the Environmental Protection Agency waited too long to warn citizens of the danger.

According to the report, officials knew about the dangers in Flint as early as June 2015. However, the EPA did not issue an emergency order until seven months later, in January 2016. Still, effects of the contamination remain. Beyoncé, Big Sean, Diddy, Eminem, and Wiz Khalifa are among other celebrities who have donated money and/or water to the victims of the crisis.

After stopping in Indianapolis this evening, Mars’ “24K Magic World Tour” will run through Nov. 11 in Los Angeles before heading to Mexico in 2018.