Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa, Drake Add Their Voices to Artists4Ceasefire Appeal as They Sign an Open Letter to President Joe Biden
Some celebrities, like the Kardashian sisters, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber, received criticism for not showing enough support for the Gaza cause despite widespread solidarity
Against the backdrop of relentless atrocities committed by Israel in Gaza, celebrities like Ariana Grande, Dua Lipa and Drake have joined the likes of a group of American celebrities in signing an open letter to President Joe Biden, urging for a ceasefire in the besieged territory.
The celebrities who have enlisted themselves in the "Artists Call for Ceasefire" roster already include notable names like Andrew Garfield, Ben Affleck, Bradley Cooper, Channing Tatum, Florence Pugh, Frank Ocean, Gigi Hadid, Jennifer Lopez, Jeremy Allen White, Joaquin Phoenix, Rachel McAdams, Tom Hardy and Zayn Malik.
The movement picked up steam following the Met Gala, where rumors circulated that celebrities had splurged over $75,000 on tickets. Kim Kardashian purportedly saw a drop of over 50,000 followers within two hours of the movement's inception.
According to their website, Artists4Ceasefire is described as "a collective of artists and advocates who have united in response to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Israel and Palestine."
The celebrities have all added their names to a letter to President Biden which reads, “We come together as artists and advocates, but most importantly as human beings witnessing the devastating loss of lives and unfolding horrors in Israel and Palestine.
We ask that, as President of the United States, you and the US Congress call for an immediate de-escalation and ceasefire in Gaza and Israel before another life is lost. More than 30,000 people have been killed over the last 5 months, and over 69,000 injured* – numbers that any person of conscience knows are catastrophic.
We believe all life is sacred, no matter faith or ethnicity and we condemn the killing of Palestinian and Israeli civilians. We urge your administration, Congress, and all world leaders, to honor all of the lives in the Holy Land and call for and facilitate a ceasefire without delay – an end to the bombing of Gaza, and the safe release of hostages.
Half of Gaza’s two million residents are children, and more than two-thirds are refugees and their descendants being forced to flee their homes. Humanitarian aid must be allowed to reach them.”
Other celebrities have been actively raising awareness through different channels, such as Palestinian model Bella Hadid, who has utilized her social media platforms to shed light on the conflict in Gaza. She has also incorporated calls for donations on her Instagram page.
Hind’s Hall Makes Strong Statement
Similarly, rapper Macklemore gained international attention for his track "HIND'S HALL," dedicated to supporting the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East. The song's proceeds contributed to the cause, furthering awareness of the ongoing situation.
However, amid widespread expressions of solidarity with the plight of Gazans, certain celebrities, including the Kardashian sisters, Taylor Swift, and Justin Bieber, have drawn criticism for their perceived lack of support for the cause.
This has sparked a social media movement dubbed "blockout2024," which seeks to boycott these celebrities.
Since the Hamas attack on October 7, 2023, which led to the deaths of 1,200 Israelis and the capture of approximately 250 hostages, Israel has been reported to have caused the deaths of over 35,000 Palestinians and injured at least 77,000 others.
