LOS ANGELES: Pop star Taylor Swift has made good on her pledge to support groups that help sexual assault victims following her victory in a Colorado groping trial this week.
The 27-year-old “Fearless” singer on Wednesday made what officials described as a generous donation to the US Joyful Heart Foundation, whose mission is to educate, support and campaign on sexual violence issues.
“Joyful Heart is honored to be recognized by Taylor Swift for our work on behalf of and in service to survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault, and child abuse,” the organization said in a statement.
Swift on Monday was awarded the symbolic $1 in damages that she had sought after a federal jury in Denver found that a radio DJ had grabbed her bottom while posing for a photo with her in 2013.
The pop star delivered unflinching testimony describing the incident, saying she wanted to help other women make their voices heard. She said she would donate to organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves.
Joyful Heart’s chief executive, Maile M. Zambuto, told the Huffington Post that Swift’s donation was “very generous,” but she did not disclose the amount.
The Joyful Heart Foundation was launched by former “Law & Order; Special Victims Unit” television star Mariska Hargitay in 2004 with the aim of alleviating the isolation felt by domestic abuse and sexual assault victims.
The actress has said she was inspired by her role as Detective Olivia Benson on the crime series and the letters sent to her by female viewers.
“I hope that Taylor’s very public experience — and her decision to speak out — not only helps empower other victims to speak up and take action, but offers them solidarity,” Hargitay said, adding that she was “honored by her dedication and commitment to these issues.”
Swift’s forceful testimony at the trial also brought expressions of support form support from singers Kesha and Nelly Furtado and “Girls” television series creator Lena Dunham.
Taylor Swift donates to assault victims group after groping win
Taylor Swift donates to assault victims group after groping win
Cambodia takes back looted historic artifacts handled by British art dealer
- The objects were returned under a 2020 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the family of the late Douglas Latchford, a British art collector and dealer who allegedly had the items smuggled out of Cambodia
PHNOM PENH, Cambodia: Cambodian officials on Friday received more than six dozen historic artifacts described as part of the country’s cultural heritage that had been looted during decades of war and instability.
At a ceremony attended by Deputy Prime Minister Hun Many, the 74 items were unveiled at the National Museum in Phnom Penh after their repatriation from the United Kingdom.
The objects were returned under a 2020 agreement between the Ministry of Culture and Fine Arts and the family of the late Douglas Latchford, a British art collector and dealer who allegedly had the items smuggled out of Cambodia.
“This substantial restitution represents one of the most important returns of Khmer cultural heritage in recent years, following major repatriations in 2021 and 2023 from the same collection,” the Culture Ministry said in a statement. “It marks a significant step forward in Cambodia’s continued efforts to recover, preserve, and restore its ancestral legacy for future generations.”
The artifacts were described as dating from the pre-Angkorian period through the height of the Angkor Empire, including “monumental sandstone sculptures, refined bronze works, and significant ritual objects.” The Angkor Empire, which extended from the ninth to the 15th century, is best known for the Angkor Wat archaeological site, the nation’s biggest tourist attraction.
Latchford was a prominent antiquities dealer who allegedly orchestrated an operation to sell looted Cambodian sculptures on the international market.
From 1970 to the 1980s, during Cambodia’s civil wars and the communist Khmer Rouge ‘s brutal reign, organized looting networks sent artifacts to Latchford, who then sold them to Western collectors, dealers, and institutions. These pieces were often physically damaged, having been pried off temple walls or other structures by the looters.
Latchford was indicted in a New York federal court in 2019 on charges including wire fraud and conspiracy. He died in 2020, aged 88, before he could be extradited to face charges.
Cambodia, like neighboring Thailand, has benefited from a trend in recent decades involving the repatriation of art and archaeological treasures. These include ancient Asian artworks as well as pieces lost or stolen during turmoil in places such as Syria, Iraq and Nazi-occupied Europe. New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art is one of the prominent institutions that has been returning illegally smuggled art, including to Cambodia.
“The ancient artifacts created and preserved by our ancestors are now being returned to Cambodia, bringing warmth and joy, following the country’s return to peace,” said Hun Many, who is the younger brother of Prime Minister Hun Manet.
