‘Charity is Not PR’: Philip Lawrence Defends Bruno Mars Against ‘Stingy’ Claims, Revealing Secret Philanthropy

In the high-stakes world of pop music, the glare of the spotlight often brings intense scrutiny. For superstar Bruno Mars, the massive success of his 2018 Grammy sweep was quickly followed by sharp criticism from a tabloid article, which labeled the artist “stingy” for a perceived lack of public giving.

The article stated: “Bruno makes millions, has a house full of Grammys but has not made a single public donation.”

However, Mars’ longtime collaborator and close friend, Philip Lawrence, has fired back, revealing that the “24K Magic” singer’s philanthropy is extensive—it just isn’t publicized.

The Rebuttal: Giving in Private

Appearing on a podcast, Lawrence, the acclaimed co-writer behind the global smash “Uptown Funk” and a core member of Mars’ production team, The Smeezingtons, directly addressed the accusations.

Lawrence exposed the artist’s quiet, long-term commitment to his home state of Hawaii.

“Bruno funds scholarships for 12 Hawaiian kids every year, without letting the press know,” Lawrence revealed.

He then shared Mars’ direct philosophy on the subject, a statement that cuts through the noise of celebrity PR: “Charity is not PR.”

To add weight to his defense, Lawrence confirmed his firsthand knowledge of the private contributions, stating, “I signed the papers, I know.”

A Record of Public Giving

While Mars clearly prefers to keep his charitable efforts private, his record includes several high-profile, multi-million dollar donations, directly refuting the “no public donation” claim.

• The Flint Water Crisis ($1 Million): In 2017, during the Michigan stop of his 24K Magic World Tour, Mars announced from the stage that he and the tour were donating $1 million to the Community Foundation of Greater Flint. This was a direct response to the city’s devastating water crisis.
• Thanksgiving in Hawaii (24,000 Meals): In 2018, Mars made a significant donation to the Salvation Army’s Hawaiian & Pacific Islands Division. The donation funded 24,000 Thanksgiving meals for families in need—a number that pointedly mirrored his Grammy-winning album, 24K Magic.
• Supporting Future Musicians: Mars also established the GRAMMY Camp Scholarship fund via the Hawai’i Community Foundation, designed to support students from his home state attending the prestigious music industry camp.

Context: The Grammy Sweep

The “stingy” criticism mentioned in the tabloid article gained traction precisely because of Mars’ monumental success at the 60th Grammy Awards in 2018.

That night, Mars dominated the ceremony, winning all six categories he was nominated in for the album 24K Magic. His wins included the “Big Three”:

• Album of the Year (24K Magic)
• Record of the Year (“24K Magic”)
• Song of the Year (“That’s What I Like”)

This clean sweep placed Mars in a rare category of artists, but also intensified the public expectation for him to make grand, public gestures. Lawrence’s defense, however, successfully reframed the narrative, painting a picture of an artist who values substantive, quiet impact over performative giving.