Ms. Rachel, also known as Rachel Accurso, has pledged to donate $1 million US to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), matching the donation promised by rapper Macklemore. This decision came after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour due to his pro-Palestinian statements during a performance.
In an Instagram post, Ms. Rachel called on other wealthy white celebrities to match her donation and raise their voices against the ongoing crisis in Gaza, where thousands of innocent Palestinian children have lost their lives. She emphasized the importance of using privilege and platforms to advocate for the protection of children and human rights.
As a global ambassador for PCRF since last September, Ms. Rachel, with over 21 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, has been actively supporting children’s rights in Gaza. Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, responded to Ms. Rachel’s post with a message of appreciation.
Macklemore announced on Instagram that he would donate his entire $1 million net earnings from Sheeran’s tour to six organizations assisting the Palestinian community. His removal from the tour came after expressing solidarity with Palestinians and criticizing the situation in Gaza and the West Bank during a concert on September 4.
Despite facing backlash, Macklemore reiterated his message of peace and love for all human beings. The decision to remove him from the tour was reportedly influenced by American billionaire Robert Kraft, who opposed Macklemore’s performance at his stadium, citing concerns about hate speech and divisiveness.
In response to the escalating situation, Sheeran clarified that the decision to remove Macklemore was not his, and he attempted to mediate the issue without success. Sheeran expressed his sorrow over the conflict in Israel and Palestine but defended his choice to remain apolitical publicly on the matter.
Following these events, all remaining supporting acts, including Irish folk band Boega, withdrew from Sheeran’s tour. Sheeran and Kraft each pledged $2 million US towards humanitarian aid in Gaza, following Macklemore’s challenge to match his donation and build bridges in the region.