Lady Gaga is urging California residents to conserve water during the drought.
The singer recently shot a public service announcement that asks people to ease up on water usage during the state’s problematic drought. Since the singer has a small army of followers who are always willing to listen to what Lady Gaga has to say, officials are hoping fans will heed her advice.
If you’re thinking the “Applause” singer is doing this out of the goodness of her heart, then you might want to think again. Lady Gaga agreed to help spread the word about water conservation because she wanted to film an art project at Hearst Castle.
According to the Los Angeles Times , the San Simeon estate — which is now a state park — has a really nifty pool that Gaga wanted filled for the shoot . Since the park is doing its part during the California drought, officials decided to drain the damaged pool since it has a tendency to leak.
Officials at the Hearst Castle Foundation agreed to fill the pool from an on-site storage facility if Lady Gaga would foot the bill for the process. In addition to paying for filling and draining the pool, the singer is donating $25,000 to repair the cracks in the pool and filming a PSA. These contributions certainly didn’t go unnoticed.
“I want to personally thank you for the [aid] and assistance you are providing to Hearst Castle, the communities surrounding San Simeon and the state as a whole. I’ve called on all Californians to conserve water in every way possible and the assistance you are providing will aide in that effort,” Governor Jerry Brown wrote in a note to Lady Gaga.
The Hollywood Reporter learned that the singer is shooting the music video for her single “G.U.Y.” at Hearst Castle. To help her bring the clip to life, she’s assembled a few cast members from the reality series The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills .
Hearst Castle Preservation Foundation board member Remar Sutton said video shoots at the castle are extremely rare. However, they decided to make an exception in Lady Gaga’s case.
“We’ve turned down every single thing. We have never allowed a commercial shoot. The general rule has been ‘no,’” Sutton told the San Luis Obispo Tribune .
He said the foundation hopes Gaga’s project will bring “extraordinary exposure” to a new generation. Sutton added, “She feels like she can engage young people in art.”
What do you think about Lady Gaga asking California residents to converse water during the drought that’s gripping the state?