American YouTube educator and children’s entertainer Ms Rachel has pledged $1 million to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), matching rapper Macklemore’s recently announced donation to organisations supporting Palestinians.
Ms Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Accurso, announced the pledge on Instagram on September 17. She said her contribution would go to PCRF, where she serves as an ambassador, and called on other wealthy public figures to make similar donations.
Ms Rachel Matches Macklemore’s Donation
Macklemore had announced a day earlier that he would donate his $1 million net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organisations providing support to Palestinians. The organisations include PCRF, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the UNRWA USA National Committee and ANERA.
Ms Rachel subsequently said she would match Macklemore’s contribution and urged other wealthy celebrities to consider making similar donations. Her announcement followed Macklemore’s removal as a supporting act from Sheeran’s US tour after he made public statements supporting Palestinians during a performance.
Donations Follow Ed Sheeran Tour Controversy
Macklemore’s removal from the tour prompted the other remaining supporting acts, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga, to withdraw from the remaining shows in solidarity. Sheeran has said that the decision to remove Macklemore was made by tour promoters after venue owners raised objections.
Separately, Robert Kraft and Sheeran have each pledged $2 million towards humanitarian assistance in the region, although the specific recipient organisations for those pledges have not been fully identified.
Ms Rachel’s $1 million pledge brings another high-profile donation into the discussion surrounding humanitarian assistance for Palestinian children.