Children's Entertainer Ms. Rachel Urges Wealthy Celebrities to Match Donation to Palestinian Aid

Children's YouTube star Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, announced Thursday that she plans to match singer Macklemore's $1 million donation to Palestinian causes. She also urged "every wealthy White celebrity" to follow suit and speak out against what she described as genocide in Gaza.

Macklemore revealed his intention to donate his earnings from the "Loop Tour" with Ed Sheeran to six organizations, including the Palestine Children's Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, and others. The rapper had recently been removed from Sheeran's tour after advocating for a "Free Palestine" and performing his song "Hind's Hall" at MetLife Stadium.

In an Instagram post, Accurso stated, "I will match Macklemore's donation and I invite every wealthy White celebrity to match it and speak out against the genocide in Gaza. 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." She indicated her donation would go to the PCRF.

Macklemore had previously challenged New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft to match his donation after Kraft declined to host the rapper at Gillette Stadium due to his activism. Kraft responded by stating he had already committed $2 million to humanitarian aid for Palestinians, highlighting his existing work in the Middle East.

Accurso was among several public figures who criticized Sheeran after Macklemore's removal from the tour, suggesting that silence on the issue was rooted in racism. "If more than 20,000 White children were killed in another part of the world, everyone would be shouting about it at their concerts," Accurso said. "Treating some children’s lives as less worthy of outrage is racist. Silence during a genocide is not neutral."

Accurso's statements have drawn criticism from pro-Israel organizations, some of which argue that her posts promote anti-Israel propaganda and falsely accuse Israel of committing genocide. Rabbi Yaakov Menken, executive vice president of the Coalition for Jewish Values, questioned Accurso's focus, stating that her attention on Gaza, representing a small fraction of globally suffering children, seemed disproportionate. He also claimed she remained silent on Israeli children held hostage until backlash mounted, suggesting her concern was not genuine but a mask for something more concerning.