Ms. Rachel, the popular American YouTube personality and educator, has announced a generous donation of $1 million US to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF). This contribution matches the pledge made by rapper Macklemore, who recently faced backlash and was removed from Ed Sheeran’s U.S. tour due to his pro-Palestinian statements during a live performance.
In an Instagram post, Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Accurso, called on other wealthy white celebrities to join her in supporting the cause and speaking out against the ongoing crisis in Gaza. She emphasized the importance of using privilege and platforms to advocate for the protection and rights of children, citing the tragic loss of over 20,000 Palestinian children.
Accurso, known for her YouTube channel with over 21 million subscribers, became a global ambassador for PCRF in September last year. She has been actively raising awareness about the humanitarian situation in Gaza and advocating for children’s well-being.
Macklemore, whose birth name is Benjamin Haggerty, expressed his admiration for Ms. Rachel’s donation, stating, “Wowwww…. Love you so much.” The rapper had previously announced on Instagram that he would be donating his entire $1 million net earnings from Sheeran’s tour to organizations supporting Palestinians.
Macklemore’s removal from the tour came after he made pro-Palestinian remarks onstage, including expressing solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank. This led to criticism from pro-Israel groups and venue threats, ultimately resulting in his departure from the tour.
In response to the controversy, Ed Sheeran addressed the situation, expressing his concerns about the conflict between Israel and Palestine. While defending his decision not to publicly take sides, he acknowledged the human tragedy unfolding and reiterated his personal views on the matter.
Following these events, both Sheeran and billionaire businessman Robert Kraft announced $2 million US donations each towards humanitarian aid in Gaza, in response to a challenge from Macklemore. Kraft revealed that Sheeran had reached out to him to coordinate their joint efforts in supporting the region during the crisis.