eHalal Palestine
🇺🇸 Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez Join Forces at Ramy Youssef’s Comedy Show to Support Gaza Relief
In a star-studded event over the weekend, global icons Taylor Swift and Selena Gomez graced a comedy show in New York to contribute to humanitarian efforts in the Gaza Strip. The event, hosted by Egyptian-American comedian Ramy Youssef as part of his ‘More Feelings’ tour, drew attention not only for its comedic entertainment but also for its philanthropic cause.
The Brooklyn Academy of Music served as the backdrop for the gathering of A-listers, including Cara Delevingne, Anya Taylor-Joy, and Zoe Kravitz, who were spotted leaving the show on Friday night. All proceeds from this particular show were pledged to the American Near East Refugee Aid (ANERA), an NGO actively involved in providing humanitarian assistance in Gaza.
Gaza, which has witnessed the devastating impact of a two-month Israeli onslaught resulting in nearly 18,000 casualties, is the focal point of ANERA’s relief efforts. The NGO also extends its support to the occupied West Bank, Jordan, and Lebanon.
While the event garnered attention for its charitable cause, both Swift and Gomez faced criticism for not using their celebrity status to highlight Israel’s actions in Gaza. The conflict, which commenced on October 7 and has caused widespread injuries and displacement, prompted criticism directed at Gomez for her perceived reluctance to address the issue despite her vocal stance on other global events, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Gomez, with nearly half a billion Instagram followers, previously stated that speaking up would not contribute to ending the violence, a stance that drew further criticism, especially in light of her endorsement of Rare Beauty’s acknowledgment of the “humanitarian crisis” in Gaza. Additionally, the singer’s social media activity, including ‘liking’ anti-Palestinian posts by comedian Amy Schumer, has sparked controversy.
Swift, recognized as TIME magazine’s ‘Person of the Year’ for 2023, has faced her own share of criticism for not intervening to halt screenings of her ‘The Eras Tour’ concert film in Israel.
Ramy Youssef, celebrated for his success with the television show ‘Ramy,’ recently announced that all proceeds from the remaining shows of his ‘More Feelings’ tour would be directed towards supporting ANERA’s humanitarian efforts.