Ms. Rachel, known as Rachel Accurso, has pledged a $1 million donation to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), matching a previous donation commitment made by rapper Macklemore. This announcement came after Macklemore was removed from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour for expressing pro-Palestinian sentiments during a performance.
In an Instagram post, Ms. Rachel urged other wealthy white celebrities to contribute to the cause and speak out against the ongoing crisis in Gaza, emphasizing the importance of protecting the lives and rights of Palestinian children. She highlighted the tragic loss of over 20,000 Palestinian children and the continuous threat they face.
As a global ambassador for PCRF, Ms. Rachel has actively advocated for the well-being and rights of children in Gaza, utilizing her platform with over 21 million YouTube subscribers to raise awareness about the humanitarian situation in the region.
Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Haggerty, responded positively to Ms. Rachel’s pledge and announced on Instagram his decision to donate his entire $1 million net earnings from Sheeran’s tour to six organizations supporting the Palestinian cause. His removal from the tour followed his public support for Palestinians during a concert.
After facing backlash and criticism from pro-Israel groups, Macklemore clarified his stance on peace and equality during a subsequent show. The decision to remove him from the tour was reportedly influenced by American billionaire Robert Kraft, a strong supporter of Israel.
In response to the escalating situation, Ed Sheeran shared a statement on Instagram explaining that Macklemore’s departure was not his decision. Despite expressing his dismay over the Israel-Palestine conflict, Sheeran defended his choice not to take a public political stance.
Following these events, all remaining supporting acts on Sheeran’s tour resigned, including the Irish folk band Boega, leaving the tour without any openers. Sheeran and Kraft later pledged $2 million each towards humanitarian aid in Gaza, in response to a challenge from Macklemore to support the cause. They expressed their commitment to working together to address the ongoing crisis in the region.