The University of Houston revealed that it is paying actor and UT alumunus Matthew McConnaughey $135,000 to speak before the first school-wide graduation ceremony in recent memory at new TDECU Stadium.  McConnaughey has indicated that he will donate his part of the fee to a charity.  However, his booking agency, Celebrity Talent International, will keep at least $20,000 for its role in securing the gig for the Academy Award winner.

UH had refused to release the amount of McConnaughey’s fee citing an unusual confidentiality provision in the engagement agreement.  CTI sought to keep the fee from public disclosure arguing that if UH revealed McConaughey’s fee, a “reporter or someone” might create “unfair negatives online.”  That plan backfired as the effort to keep the fee confidential created enough backlash and embarrassment for a publicly funded institution that should have no secrets about such matters and should have refused to sign a contract with a confidentiality clause.

Enough bad publicity apparently forced UH’s hand even though the Attorney General’s office has not ruled on the open records request seeking the contract.  In a curious statement, UH claimed, “The university has concluded its business with CTI and, therefore, is no longer bound by its confidentiality agreement with the agency.”

That would be unlike any confidentiality agreement Red has ever laid eyes on.  A standard feature of such agreements is that they survive the transaction contemplated in the agreement.  Strange days indeed.