Celebrities helping out: Taylor Swift, Ariana Grande donating directly to fans

Celebrities are not just sharing inspiration and laughs during these troubling times, many have also reached deep into their pockets to share some of their wealth to help others in need.  

Frozen’s Kristen Bell and husband Dax Shepard, who own several residential buildings in Los Angeles, are forgoing rent for their tenants for the month of April. 

That's not all. On Mar 19, Bell posted on Instagram that her family had donated US$150,007.96 (S$214,700) to No Kid Hungry, which sends out grants to schools and community groups working to feed kids during the COVID-19 outbreak. Bell explained that the very specific amount was due to the couple's two daughters wanting to donate money from their piggy banks. 

While some celebs are making the news for big lump sum donations, Ariana Grande and Taylor Swift have also been keeping it on the down low by quietly giving directly to fans who have expressed trouble with finances on social media. 

TMZ reported on Thursday (Mar 26) that Grande had been in direct contact with several fans, and had sent donations ranging from US$500 to US$1,500 each in at least ten instances. 

Swift, too, has made several donations of US$3,000 to her fans, some of whom revealed the kind gesture on their social media accounts. 

“I’m shaking and crying and just fell over a rug in my rush to ask my brother if Taylor’s message was real &now I’m probably (definitely) concussed,” wrote Twitter user India Rose. “This virus took my new dream job away but @taylorswift GAVE ME SOME JOY TONIGHT out of pure kindness.”