Ms Rachel Matches Macklemore’s $1 Million Palestine Aid Pledge as Gaza Activism Fuels Backlash
Updated
Updated · The Guardian · Sep 20
Ms Rachel Matches Macklemore’s $1 Million Palestine Aid Pledge as Gaza Activism Fuels Backlash
3 articles · Updated · The Guardian · Sep 20
Summary
Ms Rachel said she will match Macklemore’s $1 million donation to organizations supporting Palestine, extending a humanitarian campaign that has become central to her public profile.
The children’s YouTube star said footage from Gaza and conversations with affected families pushed her to speak out, arguing that criticizing governments over children’s rights should be routine.
That stance has brought accusations of antisemitism, a 2025 nomination by StopAntisemitism for “antisemite of the year,” and security problems for her family, though she says many Jewish groups have defended her.
Rachel Accurso’s platform gives the pledge unusual reach: her YouTube channel has more than 21 million followers, one video has topped 2 billion views, and her Netflix series has been streamed 69 million times since 2025.
The donation also fits a broader pattern of giving from the Accursos, who said they donated another $1 million to the World Food Programme in 2025 while rejecting pressure to stay silent on Gaza.