New York (QNN)- Well-known YouTube star Ms Rachel has said she is matching rapper Macklemore’s $1m donation to organizations supporting Palestinians, calling on other public figures to follow suit, also in a show of support for Macklemore, who was dropped from the remaining US dates of Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour following his pro-Palestinian remarks.
Macklemore, who was fired as the opening act on Ed Sheeran’s tour after saying “Free Palestine” on stage at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, pledged to donate the entirety of his earnings from Sheeran’s tour to several organizations focused on the Palestinian people.
Ms Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Accurso, wrote on Instagram: “Over 20,000 precious Palestinian children have been killed, and children continue to be killed every day.”
Accurso said her donation would go to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.
“We have a moral obligation to use our privilege and platforms to protect children and human rights,” she wrote.
Accurso, a children’s entertainer with over 21 million YouTube subscribers, has been vocal about the hardships Gaza’s young people face amid the Israeli genocide. She encouraged “every wealthy white celebrity” to match her donation.
Accurso is the latest public figure to back Macklemore, after he was dropped from Sheeran’s Loop tour for remarks he made at a 4 September concert about the plight of the Palestinian people.
“Free Palestine! I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them,” he said during a two-minute speech.
Following an attack from pro-Israel grouos and singers, Macklemore directly addressed Jewish audience members at a second tour date on 5 September, saying: “Criticism of Israel, criticism of apartheid, being against genocide in no way is a criticism of you. My message is for peace, love; for all human beings to be treated with dignity, respect and equality.”
Ed Sheeran has claimed that the decision to fire Macklemore was led by stadium owners, including Gillette Stadium and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.
Sheeran wrote on Tuesday on Instagram: “I have my personal views on this devastating conflict. Just because I choose not to speak publicly, it doesn’t mean I don’t have them, and it doesn’t mean I don’t care. Nor does it mean I don’t support causes in my own, personal way.”
Now, following backlash and calls to boycott, Kraft and Sheeran are both donating $2m each to “aid in the region”, Kraft said Wednesday, although it is unclear which organizations their funds will support.
Four supporting acts, among them American singer Finneas and Danish pop band Lukas Graham, have also quit the tour in solidarity with Macklemore.
