Children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel specifically requested white donors for a fundraiser for children in Gaza, as she promised to match a donation from rapper Macklemore.
“We have a moral obligation to use our privilege and platforms to protect children and human rights,” Ms. Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, said on Thursday.
Accurso said she was inspired by Macklemore’s donation of his earnings from Ed Sheeran’s tour. Macklemore was dropped from Sheeran’s tour earlier this week after New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft barred him from performing at Gillette Stadium following Macklemore’s anti-Israel comments from the stage at a concert at MetLife Stadium.
“I will match Macklemore’s donation and I invite every wealthy white celebrity to match it and speak out against the genocide in Gaza,” Accurso said. “Over 20,000 precious Palestinian children have been killed and children continue to be killed every day.”
On Friday, Accurso appeared to address the Macklemore backlash, writing on Instagram, “Please stop being racist and care that over 20,000 kids in Gaza were killed and that children continue to be killed.”
“Understand that everyone is outraged because killing thousands and thousands of kids is so obviously wrong and horrific. 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,” she added.
During a performance earlier this month, Macklemore shouted, “Free Palestine,” as a Palestinian flag and graphic images of the war appeared behind him. Kraft, who has spent years fighting antisemitism, said his stadium would not “provide a platform for hate speech.”
After he was barred from performing, Macklemore announced he would donate his $1 million in earnings to Palestinian relief efforts and invited Kraft to do the same. Hours later, Ms. Rachel joined the cause and said she would donate the money to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, for which she serves as an ambassador. Both Accurso and Macklemore have previously faced controversies involving antisemitism.
In the past, Macklemore has worn a costume featuring a large fake nose that critics said resembled a Jewish caricature. He later apologized for the costume and denied that was his intention.
In January, Accurso liked a comment on social media that read, “Free America from the Jews.” Shortly after, Accurso posted an emotional video claiming she liked the antisemitic comment by accident.
“I feel like we can’t be human anymore online … I am super sorry for any confusion it caused,” Accurso said through tears. “I delete antisemitism any time I see it. I am against all forms of hate including antisemitism against the Jewish people.”
Accurso launched her show on YouTube in February 2019 after her son was diagnosed with a speech delay. Since then, her popularity has skyrocketed, and she has also become increasingly vocal about politics.
In 2023, Accurso was blasted by conservative parents after she featured Jules Hoffman, a trans-identifying person who claims to be “non-binary.” Hoffman regularly played songs for children on Accurso’s channel.
