Ms. Rachel, a popular American YouTube personality and educator, has announced a generous donation of $1 million US to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), matching a similar pledge made by rapper Macklemore. The donation was made public in an Instagram post where she urged other wealthy white celebrities to join in and raise awareness about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Expressing concern for the lives of Palestinian children, Ms. Rachel highlighted the urgent need to leverage privilege and platforms to advocate for the protection of children worldwide. Having amassed over 21 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, she has been actively supporting PCRF as a global ambassador since last September, focusing on raising awareness about the plight of children in Gaza.
Macklemore, known offstage as Benjamin Haggerty, responded to Ms. Rachel’s post with admiration, emphasizing his support for the cause. The rapper recently declared his decision to donate his entire $1-million earnings from Ed Sheeran’s tour to organizations aiding Palestinians, following his removal from the tour due to his pro-Palestinian statements during a concert.
The Grammy-winning artist faced criticism for his stance on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, with some venues threatening to cancel his shows. Notably, American billionaire Robert Kraft, a supporter of Israel, played a role in Macklemore’s removal from the tour. In response, Sheeran distanced himself from the controversy, emphasizing the promoter’s decision as the reason for Macklemore’s exit.
Amid escalating tensions, Sheeran and Kraft both pledged $2 million US each for humanitarian aid in Gaza, after Macklemore’s public challenge. Kraft revealed that Sheeran initiated the joint commitment, aiming to address the ongoing crisis and foster unity among stakeholders.