Ms. Rachel vows to double Macklemore’s $1M donation to aid Gaza kids

**Ms. Rachel Matches Macklemore’s $1 Million Donation to Aid Palestinian Children**

Ms. Rachel, the 43‑year‑old children’s entertainer and Instagram personality, announced Thursday, September 18 that she will give $1 million to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

The pledge follows rapper Macklemore’s own $1 million commitment to six Palestinian‑focused charities after he was dropped from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour for proclaiming “free Palestine” during two New Jersey shows.

The donation is part of a broader reaction to the violence that began with the October 7, 2023 attacks. A United Nations report issued in June states that 20,000 children have been killed and more than 44,000 injured in Gaza since that date. Ms.

Rachel said she will “match Macklemore’s donation and invite every white celebrity to match and speak out against the genocide in Gaza” on her Instagram feed.

The entertainer clarified that the money will go directly to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, an organization for which she serves as an international ambassador.

In a subsequent post, she urged fans not to let “tax dollars hurt and kill kids and people,” adding that “we’re not going away and we are not going to stop saying not to use our tax dollars to hurt and kill kids and people.”

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## Background & Context

The controversy began when Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, declared “free Palestine” on stage at two Loop Tour stops in New Jersey.

The statement prompted singer Pink, who had shared a post from StopAntisemitism accusing him of spreading “anti‑Israel propaganda,” to clarify her position in a blog on Rosh Hashanah. She wrote that “Palestinians deserve a future that honors their humanity and their aspirations” and that “protecting innocent life comes first, everywhere.”

Following the backlash, Macklemore was removed from Sheeran’s tour. The decision was described by Ed Sheeran as coming from the promoter, not from the artist himself. Sheeran posted on September 15 that he had “spent this week trying to build bridges” but had been unable to find a solution.

He added, “I know who I am, both as a person and as an artist, and those who know my heart know my values too.”

The fallout spread beyond the tour. Fellow support acts Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Beoga withdrew in solidarity with Macklemore.

Meanwhile, New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft expressed discomfort with Macklemore performing at Gillette Stadium, stating that any statements about the Israel‑Palestine conflict “would cross that line.” Kraft also noted a “broader history of antisemitic rhetoric and imagery” surrounding the issue.

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## What People Are Saying

Ms. Rachel’s Instagram message was a direct response to Macklemore’s $1 million pledge. She said, “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.” The post encouraged other white celebrities to match the donation and speak out against Gaza’s situation.

Macklemore himself defended the removal as a strategic move, claiming on September 14 that “I didn’t need 10 shows from Ed. I needed 2.” He added that the two appearances gave him “90,000 people” to promote “Free Palestine,” noting that the cost of losing his stage presence had shifted the conversation back to the conflict.

Pink’s clarification emphasized her role as a UNICEF ambassador, stating, “I’ve spent a decade as a UNICEF ambassador for kids who didn’t choose the country or the war they were born into.” She further highlighted that she did not seek to “litigate a complex war in an Instagram caption” and that she would not “recite anybody’s slogan to earn back a follower.”

Ed Sheeran’s statements framed the situation as a promoter decision. He noted that he had attempted to “build bridges, to find a solution” and that he “know who I am…those who know my heart know my values too.” The artist also expressed hope that the controversy would not end his friendship with Macklemore, saying he was “not a victim.”

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## What Happens Next

Ms. Rachel’s pledge is set to be directed to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund. She has called on white celebrities to follow her lead, but no formal response from other public figures is reported in the source material.

The entertainer has remained vocal about political causes, .

Macklemore’s challenge to match his donation was reportedly met with an offer from Sheeran to “commit $2 million” to support the region, though details are not confirmed in the source. The broader conversation around the Israel‑Palestine conflict continues, with venue owners and artists weighing their positions amid political pressure.

The situation remains fluid. While Ed Sheeran’s statement clarified that he was not responsible for Macklemore’s removal, the tour’s schedule and lineup have been altered. No further official actions regarding Ms.

Rachel’s donation are announced, leaving her next steps uncertain.

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Ms. Rachel’s $1 million pledge marks a rare moment where a children’s entertainer leverages her platform to address international humanitarian concerns.

Whether the call to other white celebrities will prompt widespread matching remains to be seen, but the donation underscores the growing intersection of celebrity influence and global activism.