Ms. Rachel Will Match Macklemore’s $1 Million Donation to Gaza Aid

Ms. Rachel is putting money behind what she stands for.

The children’s educator and YouTube star took to her Instagram on Thursday (Sept. 17) to announce that she would be matching Macklemore’s $1 million donation to organizations supporting Palestinians, while calling on other wealthy celebrities to do the same.

“I will match Macklemore’s donation and I invite every wealthy white celebrity to match it and speak out against the genocide in Gaza,” Ms. Rachel wrote.

She continued, “Over 20,000 precious Palestinian children have been killed and children continue to be killed every day. We have a moral obligation to use our privilege and platforms to protect children and human rights.”

Her pledge comes amid the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour. As previously reported by Billboard, Macklemore announced that he would donate his entire $1 million in net earnings from the tour to six organizations working directly to support Palestinians. He also challenged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match his donation.

Kraft has since come out to share that Sheeran had called him and asked him to commit $2 million toward humanitarian aid in the region. Kraft confirmed that he would provide the matching funds, though his statement did not specify which organizations would receive the money.

These donations follow a week of tensions after Macklemore was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran’s tour. During his Sept. 4 and 5 performances at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, Macklemore voiced support for Palestinians and called for a “Free Palestine,” also performing his protest song “Hind’s Hall.”

Macklemore said that Sheeran told him Kraft had called regarding his appearance at Gillette Stadium, which is owned by Kraft’s organization. Sheeran said the decision to remove Macklemore was made by the tour promoter, not him, adding that he had tried to find a resolution with venues and promoters.

The controversy has since spread beyond the two artists. Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga — all acts connected to Sheeran’s remaining tour dates — have withdrawn from the tour.

Ms. Rachel had already spoken out in support of Macklemore earlier this week, criticizing Sheeran after the rapper’s removal became public. She accused the singer of giving in to pressure and urged people with platforms to speak out.

Her most recent post takes that support a step further, matching the full amount of Macklemore’s donation and challenging other celebrities with large financial resources to join her.