Lady Gaga’s father shuts down GoFundMe after being trolled for his $50k appeal to pay restaurant staff amid coronavirus – The Sun

Joe Germanotta was slammed for asking the public to help pay for his New York eatery Joanne Trattoria's costs after laying off 30 employees amid the coronavirus pandemic.

Joe appealed for help despite Lady Gaga being worth an estimated $275million thanks to album sales, tours and endorsements.

He tweeted: "I'm doing the best I can but we had to close Joanne for the month. Our staff needs some help financial. Any help for our employees will be appreciated."

But following backlash to the GoFundMe page, the crowdfunding campaign has been shut down after raising just $541.

The page explained: "In the uncertain time of this pandemic, the Upper West Side favorite local institution – Joanne Trattoria – has had to lay off almost 30 employees until we are able to reopen our doors."

"Our amazing staff is made up of primarily hourly workers who depend on our payroll, and who overwhelmingly live paycheck to paycheck."

It went on: "Our goal of $50,000 would cover our typical payroll for approximately 2 weeks, and 100% of the profits would go to our hourly workers to provide those necessary items like food, childcare, and medical expenses."

The appeal sparked ridicule from Twitter users, who asked why Lady Gaga herself wasn't helping out with the restaurant's financial situation.

Perez Hilton raged: "Lady GaGa is worth hundreds of millions of dollars AND is part owner in her family’s restaurant.

"Yet her also wealthy father has just taken to Twitter to ask the public to help financially the workers they have stopped paying."

One user posted: "Omg I don’t know who can help out with that. It’s not like your daughter is a millionaire or sumn like that…"

Another added: "Please, as if your family couldn't afford paying their salary. This is ridiculous."

A third wrote: "Omg pleeeeeease Lady Gaga is your daughter."

It comes after Joe refused to pay $260,000 in rent and fees for his Grand Central Terminal restaurant and bar, claiming that New York's homeless population is hurting his business.

Joe, who owns Art Bird & Whiskey Bar, told The Post that homeless people in Grand Central’s basement food court have cut his business by 30 percent since he opened in 2018.

He said back in February: "The homeless go in there to stay warm. We’re compassionate, but it affects our customers. When the homeless invade our areas, it becomes a less attractive place."

Meanwhile, Lady Gaga, who recently released her new single Stupid Love, was forced to delay the release of her album Chromatica due to the coronavirus pandemic.

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