Ms. Rachel has pledged to donate $1 million US to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), matching the donation promised by rapper Macklemore following his removal from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour over his pro-Palestinian remarks. The American YouTube personality, known as Rachel Accurso, announced her commitment in an Instagram post, urging other wealthy white celebrities to follow suit and speak out against the situation in Gaza. Accurso emphasized the importance of utilizing privilege and platforms to advocate for children’s rights, citing the tragic loss of over 20,000 Palestinian children and the ongoing crisis in Gaza.
With a substantial online following exceeding 21 million subscribers, Accurso has been a prominent advocate for children’s well-being in Gaza and serves as a global ambassador for PCRF. Macklemore, also known as Benjamin Haggerty, expressed his support for Ms. Rachel’s initiative, thanking her for her contribution. The rapper disclosed his decision to donate his entire $1 million net earnings from Sheeran’s tour to six organizations assisting Palestinians, following his removal from the tour due to his public statements in solidarity with the Palestinian people.
Amid the controversy, Macklemore’s remarks led to criticism from pro-Israel groups and venue threats to cancel shows unless he was ousted. The rapper later revealed that his removal was orchestrated by American billionaire Robert Kraft, a strong supporter of Israel, who opposed Macklemore’s performance at his stadium due to concerns of “hate speech.” In response, Sheeran faced backlash for his perceived neutrality on the issue, prompting his supporting acts to withdraw from the tour.
In a joint effort to address the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, both Sheeran and Kraft pledged $2 million US each after Macklemore’s challenge to match his donation. Kraft shared that Sheeran had initiated the commitment and the plan is to collaborate with other venue owners to provide aid and promote unity in the region.