Children’s YouTube star Rachel Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, has pledged $1 million to support Palestinian children, matching a donation announced by rapper Macklemore and calling on other wealthy celebrities to contribute.
Accurso announced the pledge on Instagram on Sept. 17, saying she would match Macklemore’s $1 million commitment and challenging what she described as “every wealthy White celebrity” to do the same. She also urged celebrities to speak publicly about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza.
Accurso said her $1 million donation would go to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), a U.S.-based nonprofit providing medical and humanitarian assistance to Palestinian children.
Accurso serves as a global brand ambassador for the organization.
In her post, Accurso cited the deaths of Palestinian children and argued that people with substantial wealth and public platforms have a responsibility to use those resources to advocate for children and human rights.
She characterized Israel's military campaign in Gaza as a “genocide”; that characterization is contested, and the article attributes it to Accurso rather than presenting it as an independent finding.
Macklemore's $1 million pledge
Accurso’s announcement came one day after Macklemore said he would donate his entire $1 million in net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organizations working with Palestinians.
The organizations named by Macklemore are the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians, the UNRWA USA National Committee and American Near East Refugee Aid, commonly known as Anera.
Macklemore also challenged Robert Kraft, the billionaire owner of the New England Patriots and founder of the Foundation to Combat Antisemitism, to match his donation.
The donation followed Macklemore's removal from Sheeran’s tour after the rapper publicly expressed support for Palestinians, including calling for a “Free Palestine” during a performance at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey.
Reporting has described disagreements surrounding the decision and pressure from venue interests.
Sheeran subsequently said Macklemore's removal was a decision made by tour promoters and stadium owners rather than by Sheeran himself.
He also said he supports humanitarian causes but prefers not to use his professional platform for political advocacy.
Ms. Rachel's growing advocacy for children affected by war
Accurso has increasingly used her large online audience to discuss humanitarian issues affecting children.
She has previously raised more than $1 million for children affected by conflicts and crises including Gaza, Ukraine and Sudan, according to Variety.
Her advocacy has also generated controversy because of her status as a prominent children's entertainer. Variety reported that she faced criticism earlier in 2026 after accidentally liking an antisemitic comment on Instagram.
Accurso subsequently apologized, saying she had been attempting to delete the comment and did not support language targeting Jewish people or any other community.
Her latest announcement places her alongside Macklemore in a highly publicized celebrity fundraising effort centered on Palestinian humanitarian relief.
A broader celebrity challenge
Accurso's appeal is broader than a fundraising announcement. By specifically calling on wealthy white celebrities to match her $1 million pledge, she is seeking to turn Macklemore's donation into a larger campaign involving other entertainment-industry figures.
The response comes as celebrities and musicians have taken differing approaches to the conflict and to public political advocacy.
While some have publicly supported Palestinian causes, others have emphasized humanitarian assistance without taking political positions, while others have faced criticism from opposing sides over their statements.
For now, Accurso's pledge brings the publicly announced commitments from her and Macklemore to at least $2 million, with Accurso directing her contribution to the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund and Macklemore dividing his pledged $1 million among six organizations.
Whether other celebrities will accept Accurso's challenge remains to be seen.
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