John Mayer donates $25,000 to L.A. pet rescue groups after challenging TMZ

Thanks to celebrity-centric news source TMZ, two L.A.-based pet rescue groups are significantly richer today.

Pop star John Mayer challenged TMZ's founder, Harvey Levin, to come up with a mug shot from his 2001 arrest for driving with a suspended license.  Mayer made a bet with him: Find the mug shot, and Mayer would donate $25,000 to the charity of Levin's choice.  As it happens, Levin is an animal lover and specified pet rescue as his preferred cause.

In short order, TMZ had posted an appeal to readers, noting that, if the challenge turned out to be a hoax and no mug shot in fact existed, it would say that "John Mayer Hates Puppies."

Turns out Mayer -- as reproach-worthy as some of his other acts (like awful songwriting) might be -- doesn't hate puppies after all. (Perhaps the rumor that his ex Jennifer Aniston's beloved corgi mix, Norman, hated him still stings.)  TMZ produced the mug shot Thursday, noting that the star's suspended-license charge was dismissed within a month of the arrest, and urged him to "fork over the dough, pal."

Today, Mayer apparently lived up to his end of the bargain, posting images of two $12,500 checks made out to animal rescue groups Pet Orphans of Southern California and Ace of Hearts to his Twitter account.  (The latter group promptly posted a response, "THANK YOU JOHN MAYER AND HARVEY LEVIN!," on its website.)  So, though we'll never approve of abysmal lyrics like "One pair of candy lips and/Your bubblegum tongue," we have to give Mayer credit for doing something good -- just this once.

-- Lindsay Barnett

Photo credit: Peter Kramer / Getty Images

Comments

[elleneyegreen]

Thank you both, the money couldn't have gone to better places. Thank god it didn't go to political campaigns!

[Hope You Get Fired]

I don't know who you are Lindsay Barnett but god you are annoying. John Mayer is a great, talented song writer with millions of fans backing him up, and you're just another loser who can't stand his success. Maybe you should actually listen to some of his songs before you open your mouth next time.

[Lindsay Barnett, L.A. Times]

Wow, HYGF, how do you really feel?

[Bri]

I have to say I fully agree with Hope You Get Fired. The way this was written seems rather unprofessional to me, but hey that was your choice. I'm glad John Mayer did what he did, and quite frankly he is an extremely talented musician.

[Mayer fan no.1]

Lindsay Barnett? Very unprofessional of you to be negative towards a proven genius musician, when he's doing something positive, which is rarely seen by the 'celebrities'.

[Er..]

You're a horrible writer. Or is it just menopause?

[Shawn UK]

God, this is one of the worst articles ive ever read! im sure a 10 year old could of wrote the story better! its just really negative about something that should be put up in lights. it just says to me that mayer was being cocky, he put on a bet on and lost. and your rubbing his nose in it!! haha. proper stupid.....

"we have to give Mayer credit fopr doing something good- just this once"

its clear its sarcastic (i hope). but there really isnt a need when hes give out 25k?! again....properly stupid write up.

ps.

Mayer is a living legend in the making!!

[D.C.]

I have to agree with everyone on this comment board. Any media outlet that tries to create conflict that isn't there is insulting to the readers and makes the author look immature and unprofessional. John Mayer is not a bad guy and whether or not you like his music doesn't matter in this instance. This story is not about his "poorly written lyrics" from one of his songs (that he even he laughs at). It's about a harmless bet that I believe, no matter which way the bet ended up, Mayer was going to donate the money to charity.

It is pathetic that L.A. Times would greenlight such an immature and extremely biased article towards a relatively harmless and well-liked artist.

[Jenn]

John Mayer isn't an awful song writer you idiots.

[That Guy!]

Wow, where did all of these John Mayer fans come from? I didn't realize so many of them could read. Looks like the only thing more annoying than his insipid songs are his apologists, err, I mean fans.

[What Monkey?]

I agree with you That Guy! Seriously, don't you have to be over thirteen years of age to leave a comment, when did all these ten year old girls, err, Mayer fans I mean, start reading the L.A. Times blogs? Lindsay, these youngsters are too young to appreciate your sardonic wit but thanks anyway for always telling it like it is... you're amazing. John Mayer will be the Barry Manilow of his generation. Or Sean Cassidy. Or Michael Bolton. His songs are like an ice-pick in the eye, only slightly less pleasant. Shawn UK, be honest, you're a grammar school lass, right? Some day, we'll look back on your "living legend in the making" and you'll chuckle with the rest of us.

[Jack Campbell]

I'm sorry Lindsay, but it seems that you are judging John Mayer off of the way he treats women, and not the actual songs he produces. He is a fantastic singer/guitarist/songwriter, and although he does seem to play around with women, you can't say he doesn't deserve the money he has made.