CAP D’ANTIBES, France — Bill Clinton’s saxophone and Robert Pattinson’s lips have helped a star-studded charity event raise money to fight AIDS.
An alto sax signed and donated by the former U.S. president was one of the star lots at the Cinema Against AIDS benefit on the sidelines of the Cannes Film Festival, selling for $180,000. There was also keen bidding on two kisses from “Twilight” star Pattinson, which raised $28,000 each. Sharon Stone hosted the 16th annual event late Thursday at the exclusive Hotel du Cap on the French Riviera. Annie Lennox entertained about 800 guests who included Paris Hilton, model Claudia Schiffer, director Terry Gilliam, rapper 50 Cent and scientist James Watson, one of the discoverers of DNA. Stone urged people to give generously despite the global economic slump. Like the Cannes Film Festival itself, the event was more muted than in recent years, with just a smattering of A-list stars and some lots selling for below their estimates. Organizers said the event raised a total of $4.5 million, compared with $10 million last year. Guests had to pass through police checkpoints to get to the event, where they drank champagne in the hotel grounds overlooking the Mediterranean before dining on smoked salmon and roasted sea bass. He noted that $30 trillion in wealth had disappeared around the world between September and March, “and a lot of it came out of some of your bank accounts.”
“I’m here with people who tell stories for a living,” Clinton said.