(ANSA) - Rome, January 31 - Sanremo host Carlo Conti said
after criticism of his 650,000 fee for hosting the upcoming song
fest that he would give some of it to people in central Italy
who have endured a series of crippling earthquakes.
"It's nicer to help others without saying, without shouting
it from the rooftops to look good," Conti told Oggi magazine.
"I had already planned to devote a major sum to the
populations struck by the earthquake and I wanted to keep it to
myself, but unfortunately these absurd rows have forced me to
make it public".
Rightwing populist Northern League leader Matteo Salvini had
earlier called Conti's fee "disgusting" and urged RAI State TV,
which is reportedly earning six million euros from the fest, to
help out the quake-hit.
The Sanremo fest runs February 7-11 in the northern Ligurian
coastal resort.
Sanremo host Conti to give some of fee
'Wanted to keep it to myself' says amid row