Ms. Rachel has announced a generous donation of $1 million US to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), matching the contribution pledged by rapper Macklemore after he was removed from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour for his pro-Palestinian statements. The popular American YouTube personality and educator, Rachel Accurso, revealed her commitment in a recent Instagram post, urging other affluent white celebrities to follow suit and condemn the crisis in Gaza.
Expressing concern for the thousands of Palestinian children who have lost their lives, Ms. Rachel emphasized the moral duty to leverage privilege and platforms to defend children’s rights. With over 21 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, she was appointed a global ambassador for PCRF last year, actively advocating for the well-being and rights of children in Gaza.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, responded to Ms. Rachel’s pledge with admiration, expressing his support. The renowned rapper declared on Instagram that he would donate his entire $1 million earnings from Sheeran’s tour to six organizations aiding Palestinians, following his removal from the tour due to his pro-Palestinian remarks.
In a statement, Macklemore clarified that his departure from the tour was orchestrated by American billionaire Robert Kraft, a strong supporter of Israel. Kraft confirmed his opposition to Macklemore performing at his stadium, denouncing what he termed as hate speech and divisive messaging by the rapper.
After Macklemore’s exit, criticism towards Sheeran intensified, prompting several supporting acts to withdraw from the tour. Sheeran, in response, acknowledged the conflict between Israel and Palestine as a human tragedy but defended his decision to remain neutral publicly. Despite efforts to maintain unity, the tour faced further setbacks as all remaining supporting acts, including the band Boega, announced their departure.
Following a public challenge from Macklemore, Kraft and Sheeran each pledged $2 million US towards humanitarian aid in Gaza. Kraft disclosed that Sheeran had reached out to him before the challenge, aiming to collaborate on aiding the region and fostering unity.