Nelly Furtado gives up Gaddafi money

Nelly Furtado has said she is going to give away a $1million (£615k) payment she received after playing a private gig for Libyan leader Col. Muammar Gaddafi.

She announced her decision on Twitter in an effort to distance herself from the dictator.

"In 2007, I received 1million$ from the Qaddafi clan to perform a 45 min show for guests at a hotel in Italy (sic)," she said.

"I am going to donate the $."

So far, Furtado is the first artist to state they will return money received from performing for Gaddafi. Mariah Carey, Usher and Beyonce have all also played for him in the past. [The Independent]