Former Chelsea captain John Terry has hit out at reports claiming he is charging fans £100 per autograph and says all proceeds from his one-man tour are going to his charity foundation.
The 42-year-old held the first of his four nights in Basingstoke last Friday and was criticised when it emerged that, in addition to paying £25 for a ticket, fans were also being asked to stump up £100 for one signature and £500-a-head to eat with him.
But Terry has now defended the pricing and hit out at the reports regarding his tour, saying they failed to mention that all money raised is going to his John Terry 26 Foundation which supports various charities.
‘Hi guys, just wanted to touch on the stories the press are writing about me charging fans £100 for signatures and photos and drinks or whatever that may be,’ he said on Instagram on Tuesday evening.
‘The big thing – and this is very important – the big thing that they forgot to mention is that all proceeds from these events that I’ve been doing – and the only reason that I signed up – is to raise money for my foundation, for the John Terry 26 Foundation.
‘I set my foundation up about seven or eight months ago because I wanted to do something personal and on my own where I’m going to be eventually hosting a gala dinner, golf events throughout the year, any opportunities to raise money for my foundation.
‘I’ve been working very closely with various different charities over the last 22 years being Chelsea captain and seeing a lot of terminal and ill and sick children along the way, which is something that’s always been something very close to my heart and always will be.
‘So rather than doing it for one specific charity, I’ve been focusing on my own foundation in the last six or seven months. And this tour that I’m doing, this Q&A that I’m doing, is part of that.
‘But like I said, the key thing that the press have forgotten to write is that all proceeds from this event [will go to charity]. And I didn’t want this publicised, and I agreed this with the guys, because I don’t think it’s right for me to publicise that.
‘But now they’ve raised the issue I will address it. So, every penny from these events goes towards my John Terry 26 Foundation.
‘I apologise for coming out a day or two days late, but I’ll touch on why I didn’t touch on this yesterday: because, again, I was at another charity day working for BGC in London with obviously the very sad news of the World Trade Centres and something that I’ve done for the last five or six years and I’ll continue to do.
‘But again, giving up my time, giving up my day, for all these charities is something that’s very important to me and I’ll never stop that. Really frustrating for me actually and I’m just fed up with the press writing s**t over and over again.’
