Ms. Rachel, also known as Rachel Accurso, has announced a significant donation of $1 million US to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), matching a previous pledge made by rapper Macklemore. The donation was revealed in an Instagram post where she urged other affluent white celebrities to follow suit and condemn the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
Expressing concern for the plight of Palestinian children, Ms. Rachel emphasized the importance of using privilege and influence to advocate for their protection and human rights. As a global ambassador for PCRF, she has been actively raising awareness about the humanitarian situation in Gaza through her popular YouTube channel, which has over 21 million subscribers.
In response to Ms. Rachel’s announcement, Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, expressed admiration and support for her initiative. The rapper recently declared that he would donate his entire $1-million earnings from Ed Sheeran’s tour to organizations assisting the Palestinian community.
Macklemore faced controversy and was removed from the tour after voicing pro-Palestinian sentiments during a concert, leading to criticism from pro-Israel groups. The decision to part ways with him was reportedly influenced by American billionaire Robert Kraft, a staunch supporter of Israel, who opposed Macklemore’s performance at his stadium.
Following these events, Ed Sheeran, the tour headliner, faced backlash for the handling of the situation. Despite expressing empathy for the conflict between Israel and Palestine, Sheeran defended his decision not to take a public stance on the issue. Subsequently, all remaining supporting acts withdrew from the tour, leaving Sheeran without openers for upcoming shows.
In a show of solidarity and humanitarian support, both Kraft and Sheeran have pledged $2 million US each towards aiding the Gaza region, responding to a challenge set by Macklemore. Their joint efforts aim to contribute to easing the humanitarian crisis and fostering cooperation among venue owners to address the ongoing challenges in the region.