Former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has declined to accept a $40,000 fee to speak at the University of Houston’s commencement in May, even though a contract entitled him to the money.
Schwarzenegger spokesman Daniel Ketchell said the former governor wasn’t aware of the fee and that “he has never asked for a speaking fee to speak to students,” according to the Houston Chronicle. “He has asked his representatives to waive the fee, and he looks forward to his visit.”
The university will pay for Schwarzenegger’s lodging in a first-class hotel, for airfare, and for a limousine to drive him to and from the speech, the costs of which are undetermined, the Houston Chronicle reported.
Actor Matthew McConaughey was paid $135,000 to speak at the University of Houston's 2015 commencement, which was the first time the school held a university-wide ceremony for graduation. McConaughey donated $130,000 of his fee to charity, the Chronicle reported.
Although it is customary to pay thousands of dollars to for guest speakers, New Jersey is now considering a $10,000 cap on using state funds to pay public university speakers after “Jersey Shore” star Nicole “Snooki” Polizzi was paid $32,000 to speak at Rutgers in 2011, Newsmax reported.
Twitter users thought it was nice of the “Terminator” to terminate the fee.
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