Lionel Richie Came In To Support The LGBTQ Community On 2020 Spirit Day
Lionel Richie is no stranger to standing for a cause and helping others. In 1985, Richie wrote the song “We Are the World” with the king of pop, Michael Jackson himself. The song generated roughly $50 million in donations for African famine relief. He also stood up against bullying on Spirit Day and showed his support towards LGBT youths.
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A global superstar, Lionel Richie, is no stranger to standing up for a cause.
In 1985, he wrote the song “We Are the World” in collaboration with the pop king, Michael Jackson himself. The song —written for USA for Africa, an organization aimed to help Africa through united support of artists—generated roughly $50 million in donations for African famine relief.
Recently as well, The American Idol judge supported GLAAD’s annual national campaign, Spirit Day. There, he showed his support to LGBTQ youths and took a stand against bullying.
Lionel Richie On LGBTQ Community: Uniqueness Is Your Strength
Spirit Day is the annual LGBTQ awareness day observed on the third Thursday in October. Millions of people wear purple on the day as a sign of support for LGBTQ youths and as a voice against bullying.
The accomplished songwriter Richie also joined the cause in 2020 and made his support known by promoting self-acceptance. He took to Instagram a motivational picture that featured a quote "Your Uniqueness Is Your Strength," and wrote in the caption:
To all my young people out there: it’s okay to be who you are! No matter your background, race, religion, ability, sexual orientation, or gender identity! Wear purple on October 15 and share with #SpiritDay. #ChooseKindness @glaad.”
Other figures such as Kamala Harris and Halle Berry, among many others, joined in to support Spirit Day and discouraged bullying.
Lionel Richie Is A Part Of The Prince’s Trust
In June of 2019, it was announced at an event in Barbados that the We Are the World songwriter became the first Chair of the Global Ambassador Group for The Prince’s Trust. The Prince's Trust is a charity founded by the His Royal Highness, The Prince Of Wales.
According to Prince’s Trust International, Lionel supports the charity as it sets to work on a new global remit, tackling issues such as youth education and unemployment, supporting indigenous youth, and building sustainable communities.
Lionel Richie is Dating Model Lisa Parigi
Defying all the speculation that states Lionel Richie is gay, the American Idol judge is dating Lisa Parigi, a model-turned-lifestyle blogger.
The two have been together since at least 2014. While they have been together for quite some time, they do not have any children together. However, they do have a dog named Sylvester, who has his own Instagram.
Before dating Lisa, Richie was married twice. He married Brenda Harvey and Diana Alexander at different intervals of time.
He adopted daughter Nicole Richie with Brenda, and the two divorced on 9 August 1993— after almost 18 years of marriage. He married Diana in 1995 and had son Miles Richie and daughter Sofia Richie before splitting with her in 2004.