Speak of Dubai to a bunch of celebrities and the mood is instantly jubilant, but bring up US President-elect Donald Trump to the same people and they instantly sober up.
Welcome to the red carpet reception of the star-studded charity fundraiser, The Global Gift Gala, held on the sidelines of the Dubai International Film Festival (Diff), on December 12, which saw politics and economics intermingle seamlessly.
“Everybody is waiting and holding their breath about what’s going to happen [in the US]. Lots of disappointment, obviously, for the country and women. But we are waiting. We will see,” said Eva Longoria Baston, the honorary chair of the fundraiser. Dressed in an strapless black trumpet gown, accessorised with a diamond bracelet and her wedding ring, the Desperate Housewives actress brightened up when she spoke about the UAE.
WATCH: Gulf News tabloid! Senior Reporter Manjusha Radhakrishnan speaks to Eva Longoria about her humanitarian work and what she loves about Dubai at the Global Gift Gala at the Four Seasons, Jumeirah Beach.
“Ever since I got engaged here, Dubai will always have a special place in my heart. It is definitely a wonderful, wonderful place and I love coming here... This is truly a global event and to be in Dubai makes it great for us,” said Longoria Baston to Gulf News tabloid!. She got married in Mexico in May this year.
It’s her fourth time to Dubai with the Global Gift Gala, which helps raise funds for Dubai Cares, Harmony House (India), the Eva Longoria Foundation and the GGG’s Casa Global Gift.
“Celebrities have a platform and a voice to bring light to different causes and issues. So tonight, we are hoping that many of the amazing stars will lend their voices tonight and help us raise funds,” said Longoria Baston. Several plum offers went under the hammer later that night including a gala invite with Longoria Baston and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo in Spain and getting a designer shoe line with Sara Jessica Parker.
But the lady who got Longoria Baston beaming was her best friend and Golden Globe winner Melanie Griffith, who was honoured with the Global Gift Gala Humanitarian Award.
WATCH: Gulf News tabloid! Senior Reporter Manjusha Radhakrishnan speaks to Melanie Griffith on the red carpet for The Global Gift Gala at the Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah Beach.
“She is one of my best friends and we have known each other for 20 years. She is such a philanthropist and she’s such humanitarian, so it’s great that we are honouring her for all the great work she has done and continues to do. She is truly as an amazing person,” said Longoria.
Perhaps she is, but Griffith, dressed in a red Dolce & Gabbana gown and with curled hair cascading to one side, was particularly guarded on the red carpet. Her responses were as stiff as her shoulder pads in her 1988 classic, Working Girl.
Her thoughts on Longoria Baston (“I would follow her anywhere”) and her thoughts on Dubai (“Great”) to get an idea.
But she was more vocal when it came to Trump.
“I voted for Hilary. I just hope that Trump will do a good job. He seems to be changing on some of the issues before his win. I just don’t know. He hasn’t taken over, but we will know soon if it will be for the better,” said Griffith. However, she let her guard down towards the end of the evening as she accepted the humanitarian award. Longoria Baston’s compliments, such as “she’s an amazing person, an amazing mother, an amazing daughter and a loyal friend”, proved to be a good lubricant.
“I have seen her run to so many causes and when she does, she invests so much love and energy. Whether it is hosting the President of the United States in her house [Barack Obama] or calling on her friends to fundraise, when you are in her presence, you feel the love, the hope and the energy. She makes the world a better place and people around her better,” said Longoria Baston before presenting the award to “her dear friend”.
Returning the favour, Griffith said that she would go to anywhere in the world for her dearest Eva while accepting her award.
The opulent evening, which saw this region’s well-heeled loosen their purse strings, also had entertainment from American singer Anastacia. The black-tie gala became an informal affair as soon as she belted out her hits One Day In Our Life, Left Outside Alone and I’m Outta Love.
WATCH: Gulf News tabloid! Senior Reporter Manjusha Radhakrishnan speaks to William Poulter on the red carpet for The Global Gift Gala at the Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah Beach.
“We are all friends and we appreciate each other’s work. We see each other as strong healthy women who give back to our planet. It’s important to realise that it’s not all about the red carpet. It’s really about we trying to make a difference in the world,” said Anastacia after sharing a group hug with Longoria Baston and Griffith.
Later in the night, the singer even auctioned off a chance for a guest to enjoy a private concert performance.
While raising thousands of dollars for a worthy cause, the US native also expressed her fears about the new political climate in her country.
WATCH: Gulf News tabloid! Senior Reporter Manjusha Radhakrishnan speaks to singer Anastacia on the red carpet for The Global Gift Gala at the Four Seasons Resort, Jumeirah Beach.
“I understand that it has been difficult out there, but I am going back next week [to the US]. My mother is distraught, she is a mess. But you just have to try to stay positive... this too shall pass. Everything that you go through in life, you may not be happy with it, but try to find the rose within the thorns,” Anastacia added.
The evening, was however, all rosy.
The glitzy night, which also saw Sex, Lies And Videotape star Andie MacDowell, actor Luke Hemsworth and Jeffrey Wright lend their star power, made it their business to make the lives of the underprivileged, who have bigger problems than the US politics, better.
DID YOU KNOW?
Ali Mustafa, the director of The Worthy that premiered at the Diff 2016, will release his film in the cinemas in February.
“Apart from an odd review, it has been overwhelmingly positive. The reception for my movie has been wonderful and it’s a great time for the Emirati filmmakers... I have just begun,” said Mustafa.
