Ms. Rachel is calling out Ed Sheeran.
The educator and Youtuber, whose real name is Rachel Accurso, slammed the British star after rapper Macklemore was axed from the remaining dates of Sheeran's tour. Venue owners including Robert Kraft, who owns the New England Patriots and their stadium, objected to Macklemore's onstage remarks in support of Palestinians and calls for a "free Palestine."
"Ed Sheeran had an opportunity [to] show that we won't be bullied into punishing people for supporting Palestine," Accurso wrote in an Instagram post. "Instead he caved to people who refuse to accept what the world knows. A genocide is happening in Gaza. We all need to speak out against it."
The mother of two has become a vocal critic of anti-Muslim and anti-Islamic
rhetoric in the wake of the Israel-Hamas conflict and frequently states that her mission is to "advocate for every child," no matter where in the world they are.
"Imagine looking back 20 years from now at yourself kicking someone off a tour because they spoke out during a genocide that has killed over 20,000 kids." Accurso wrote in a separate post shared to Instagram. More than 21,000 children have been killed in Israeli attacks in Gaza, according to the territory's Hamas-run health ministry, whose figures are considered reliable by the United Nations.
USA TODAY has reached out to Sheeran's representative for comment.
Sheeran's Loop Tour tour is set to resume Sept. 19 and Macklemore had been slated to perform at eight of its 10 remaining concerts, according to Rolling Stone.
While some praised Macklemore for using the stage to amplify his voice, others criticized the political message, including the Israeli-American Council, which circulated a petition urging Sheeran and the tour's organizers to remove Macklemore from the remaining lineup.
What did Macklemore say?
On Sept. 4, Macklemore performed during a Sheeran concert at MetLife Stadium in New Jersey. During his set, the Grammy-winning musician wore a kaffiyeh and performed his pro-Palestinian protest song "Hind's Hall."
The rapper, 43, told those in attendance that one of the reasons he joined the tour was to advocate for a "free Palestine."
"A big part of the reason why I wanted to do this tour in the first place is so I could stand up in stadiums like this and say two words that are very near and dear to my heart: ‘Free Palestine,'" he told the crowd. "I said, 'Free Palestine!' I want those words to be loud and clear, so that people all the way in Gaza to the occupied West Bank know that we have not forgotten about them."
How did Macklemore respond to being dropped?
In a lengthy Instagram post on Sept. 14, Macklemore said he and Sheeran, whom he has known for 13 years, held several difficult conversations, though "rooted in love and respect," that subsequently ended "in a place of fundamental disagreement.."
Macklemore wrote that Sheeran had shared with him that he had been given an ultimatum by Kraft, whose Kraft Group owns Gillette Stadium: "if Macklemore stays on the tour, you will not be allowed to play in our venues."
Macklemore acknowledged that Sheeran was in a difficult situation and that other stadium owners were turning up the pressure on Sheeran. But the star also expressed disappointment in Sheeran's "I don't take sides" stance.
Kraft later confirmed that he was behind Macklemore's removal, saying in a statement that he was concerned Macklemore would spread "hate speech" and "antisemitic rhetoric and imagery."
"Taking a side can cost you. Money, brand deals, sponsorships, festivals, private shows, relationships and access. I've lost all of those things. But there is no neutral position between the oppressor and the oppressed," he wrote, adding that if the words "free Palestine" cost him the stage, "then it was the most successful tour I've ever been on."
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ms. Rachel slams Ed Sheeran after Macklemore is dropped from his tour
