On Saturday, January 10, a handful of beloved artists traded their Golden Globes pre-games for a benefit concert in support of humanitarian aid in Gaza and Sudan.
Led by Sudanese-Canadian poet Mustafa and hosted by Bella Hadid and Pedro Pascal, the show, called Artists for Aid, was the third edition of the fundraiser.
The night brought in a total of $5.5 million in support for the Sudanese American Physicians Association and the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund.
About 20 artists and performers, along with thousands of ticket-buying attendees, supported the event. Performances included a special cover of “69 Love Songs” by Chappell Roan and Lucy Dacus, a duet by Maggie Rogers and Shawn Mendes, as well as tunes from Clairo, Blood Orange, NONAME, Omar Apollo, Rex Orange County, and more.
Palestinian American and Sudanese American poets Noor Hindi and Safia Elhillo also performed, in what The Los Angeles Times called “the night’s most overt performances addressing the current crises.”
“I always knew that an artist’s power did not come from their musical knowledge,” Mustafa said to kick off the evening. “I always knew that an artist’s power comes from the expansion of their empathy.”
One aid organization that benefited from the show, the Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund, said the evening “showed how global solidarity can become real action, sending a powerful message of care and hope to children who have endured so much in both Palestine and Sudan.”
In fact, two children who were evacuated from Gaza for life-saving treatment, Diaa and Ayham, were in attendance at the concert.
“We were especially moved to see [them] … thriving and strong once again, just as we wish for all the children we serve,” the PCRF shared on social media.
“All funds raised will go directly toward supporting children served by PCRF and the Sudanese American Physicians Association, providing life-saving care where it is most needed in Palestine and Sudan.”
Co-host Bella Hadid used the opportunity to speak about her own experience as a Palestinian.
“For me when I talk about Palestine, I think about my Baba,” Hadid said in an intimate moment on stage, speaking about her father, who was born in Nazareth but later became a refugee.
“When you talk about walking in your truth, that’s something he’s done. Something my Baba always taught me was to always walk in love. He never taught me hate. It was always about compassion, gratitude, and understanding of history.”
“I was raised on the memory of the country he had abandoned. He brought Palestine with him into this crowd tonight. Every Palestinian here is a part of my Baba’s heart, part of the Hadid family’s heart.”
Her co-host, Pedro Pascal, also has a long history of activism. He tied a myriad of causes together in a touching speech between performances.
“Once you see it, it’s impossible to look away. From Sudan, to Palestine, from the Indigenous of this country, to the displaced in Al-Fashaga and Rafah, all of our suffering is connected,” Pascal said.
“All of our searching for home is connected. We are each other’s magnitude and bond.”
You may also like: 'Hacks' star Hannah Einbinder raises $60K for Gaza doctors on Instagram
Header image courtesy of The Palestinian Children’s Relief Fund
