Lady Gaga is being sued for $5 million (NZ$6.2 million) over her charity wristbands.
The Born This Way hitmaker is the subject of a lawsuit alleging she deliberately inflated the cost of shipping and handling of the 'We Pray for Japan' bracelets - which were being sold for $5, plus
$3.99 for shipping and handling, and 60 cents for taxes - in order to profit from the charitable venture, which was initiated to raise money for the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
On Gaga's website it stated that all proceeds from the sale of the 'We Pray For Japan' wristbands were going to the victims of the Japanese earthquake and tsunami.
Ari Kresch, an attorney with Michigan-based 1-800-LAW-FIRM, said: "I'm suing Lady Gaga simply to hold her accountable for giving the money that she was raising for charity to the cause that she was trying to raise it for."
The attorneys claim they have contacted Gaga's representatives, who refused to disclose how much money is being "retained" by the star from the sales.
Alyson Oliver explained: "When you use your celebrity and your power as a musician to take money from people under false pretences, that's just wrong.
"When we tried to communicate with the defendants in this lawsuit, all we got was, 'Well, some of the money is being retained, but we don't really know how much', is the essence of the response that we got.
"If the money were going to the right place rather than into the defendant's pocket, then I hope that our effort helps that."
Gaga is still selling the wristbands on her website and it is alleged that she has now violated consumer protection laws in every US state.
In addition, some fans have complained that they have not received their wristbands yet.
- BANG! Showbiz
