Mariah Carey says she was unaware that she was booked to perform a concert linked to Gaddafi’s clan – and she is embarrassed about it.

Ms Carey is among a handful of entertainers paid handsome fees to give exclusive private concerts. It was later revealed that the people behind those concerts were the family of embattled Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi.

Last week, Nelly Furtado announced she is giving the €716,000 fee she was paid in 2007 to charity; Beyonce said in a statement she had donated her fees for a 2009 New Year’s Eve performance in St Bart’s to Haiti earthquake relief once she discovered the Gaddafi link.

Ms Carey performed in St Bart’s in 2008, but in a statement she said she did not know she was performing for an infamous family.

“I was naïve and unaware of who I was booked to perform for. I feel horrible and embarrassed to have participated in this mess,” the 40-year-old singer said. “Going forward, this is a lesson for all artistes to learn from. We need to be more aware and take more responsibility regardless of who books our shows. Ultimately, we as artistes are to be held accountable.”

Ms Carey’s representative, Cindi Berger, would not comment on how much Carey was paid for the performance. But she noted that Carey has donated millions throughout the years to charity, from royalties from her hits Hero and One Sweet Day to her own foundation, Camp Mariah.