LONDON, May 25 — Neil Gaiman will do a ‘live’ performance of the Dr Seuss book Fox in Socks so long as fans raise US$1 million (RM4.2 million) to help refugees.
The announcement came after the bestselling author of American Gods accepted a challenge from US comedian and author Sara Benincasa last Friday to do a ‘live’ reading of the menu of US dessert chain, Cheesecake Factory, in exchange for US$500,000-worth of pledges to the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR).
Gaiman was appointed a global goodwill ambassador of the UNHCR in February.
Dear @neilhimself: for $500K to the charity of your choice would you read the Cheesecake Factory menu in its entirety onstage pls advise pic.twitter.com/0pptJKTaM0
Advertisement— Sara Benincasa (@SaraJBenincasa) May 19, 2017
I have said Yes. If she makes it happen, for charity, I will do this thing. https://t.co/vkJWVDiYTJ
— Neil Gaiman (@neilhimself) May 20, 2017
Benincasa explained to Eater.com how the idea came about:
“Last week I watched an episode of the sublime TV adaptation of American Gods, went on a goddamn elegant date to Cheesecake, woke up, drank coffee, and went into some kind of inspiration blackout. When I came to, I discovered I'd asked Neil if he'd read the entire Cheesecake Factory menu onstage in exchange for a US$500,000 donation to a charity of his choice.”
As well as money from pledges, tickets will be sold for the reading with all proceeds also going to the UNHCR. The event will also be live streamed.
At time of writing, a little over US$38,000 had been raised on the fundraising page set up by Benincasa.
The deadline is June 20, or World Refugee Day.
