Nimah Alabi
American rapper, Macklemore, has announced plans to donate $1 million from his net earnings from Ed Sheeran’s Loop Tour to six organisations supporting Palestinians.
Macklemore, whose real name is Ben Haggerty, made the announcement on Instagram on Wednesday, September 16, following his removal from Sheeran’s tour after making pro Palestinian comments during a concert.
The donation will be shared among the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund (PCRF), HEAL Palestine, Gaza Soup Kitchen, Medical Aid for Palestinians (MAP), UNRWA USA and American Near East Refugee Aid (Anera).
The organisations provide different forms of humanitarian, medical and relief support to Palestinians.
In his announcement, Macklemore said he wanted attention to remain on Palestinians affected by the ongoing conflict rather than the controversy surrounding his removal from the tour.
He also challenged Robert Kraft, owner of the New England Patriots and Gillette Stadium, to match his $1 million donation.
Kraft later said he had already committed $2 million in humanitarian aid after a request from Sheeran, although his statement did not specify the organisations that would receive the money.
Macklemore’s donation comes days after he was removed from the remaining U.S. dates of Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
Sheeran has said the decision was made by the tour promoter and was not his own decision.
The controversy has also led the other supporting acts on the tour, including Finneas, Lukas Graham, Aaron Rowe and Sheeran’s backing band Beoga, to withdraw from the remaining dates.
