YouTube star Ms Rachel tae match Macklemore’s $1m Palestine aid donation

YouTube star Ms Rachel has said that she is matchin the rapper Macklemore’s $1m donation tae organisations that gie support tae Palestinians, whilst caain on ither weel-kent folk tae follow suit.

Macklemore, who was sackit as the openin act on Ed Sheeran’s tour efter sayin “Free Palestine” on the stage at New Jersey’s MetLife Stadium, pledged tae gie the full amount o his earnins frae the tour tae several organisations focused on the Palestinian folk.

Ms Rachel, whase full name is Rachel Accurso, wrate on Instagram: “Ower 20,000 precious Palestinian bairns hae been slauchtered, and bairns continue tae be killed ilka day.”

Accurso said her donation wad gang tae the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund.

“We hae a moral obligation tae use our privilege and platforms tae protect bairns and human richts,” she wrate.

Accurso, a bairns’ entertainer wi ower 21 million YouTube subscribers, has been plain-speakin aboot the hardships that the youth o Gaza face in the middle o the war wi Israel. She encouraged “ilka walthy white celebrity” tae match her donation.

Accurso is the latest weel-kent figure tae back Macklemore, efter he was drappit frae Sheeran’s Loop tour for the remarks he made at a 4 September concert aboot the plicht o the Palestinian folk.

“Free Palestine! I want thae words tae be loud and clear, so that folk a the wey in Gaza tae the occupied West Bank ken that we hae no forgotten aboot them,” he said durin a twa-minute speech.

Macklemore’s words brocht a flurry o criticism frae groups aligned wi Israel. The sangster Pink also caad for Macklemore tae be removed frae the tour, and mentioned a 2014 incident whaur he wore a costume decried for haein a resemblance tae a Jewish caricature. Macklemore apologised for the costume at the time.

Pink expandit on her position in an Instagram post, sayin she was no speakin on behalf o the Israeli government, but rather wantit tae advocate for Jewish concert-gaers wha micht hae been alarmed by the rapper’s remarks.

Macklemore directly addressit Jewish audience members at a second tour date on 5 September, sayin: “Criticism o Israel, criticism o apartheid, bein against genocide in nae wey is a criticism o you. My message is for peace, love; for a human beinings tae be treatit wi dignity, respect and equality.”

Sheeran has maintained the decision tae sack Macklemore was led by stadium owners, includin Gillette Stadium and New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft.

Sheeran wrate on Tuesday on Instagram: “I hae my personal views on this devastatin conflict. Juist because I choose no tae speak publicly, it doesna mean I dinna hae them, and it doesna mean I dinna care. Nor does it mean I dinna support causes in my ain, personal wey.”

Kraft and Sheeran are baith donnin $2m each tae “aid in the region”, Kraft said Wednesday, altho it is unclear whit organisations their funds will support.

Fower supportin acts, amang them American sangster Finneas and the Danish pop band Lukas Graham, hae quat the tour in solidarity wi Macklemore.