Guess what? The Weeknd isn’t just blinding us with lights; he’s also shedding light on a serious issue in the quirkiest way possible. Hold on to your hats, because the 33-year-old sensation is tossing around millions like confetti at a party. Why, you ask? Well, since October 7, when Israel and the Palestinian militant group Hamas decided to play tag with tanks, more than 15,000 people in Gaza have been having the worst game day ever.
Cue The Weeknd’s entrance, swooping in like a superhero armed with a big heart and an even bigger checkbook. The “Blinding Lights” maestro is splashing $2.5 million from his XO Humanitarian Fund to the United Nations World Food Programme. That’s right, he’s not just making it rain, he’s making it pour emergency meals – a whopping 4 million of them.
So, what does that mean? Over 173,000 Palestinians are about to embark on a two-week culinary journey, courtesy of The Weeknd’s generosity. Move over, Gordon Ramsay; there’s a new chef in town, and he goes by the name Abel.
Corinne Fleischer, the WFP’s Director for the Middle East, North Africa, and Eastern Europe Region, couldn’t hold back her excitement, saying, “The WFP is working round the clock to provide aid in Gaza, but a major scale-up is needed to address the desperate level of hunger we are seeing. Our teams need safe and sustained humanitarian access, and continued support from donors to reach as many people as we can.”
And then she dropped the mic (figuratively), adding, “We thank Abel for this valuable contribution towards the people of Palestine. We hope others will follow Abel’s example and support our efforts.” Who knew fighting hunger could be this cool? Hats off to The Weeknd for turning charity into the hottest trend since skinny jeans.
The Weeknd‘s XO Humanitarian Fund is directing $2.5 million to Gaza, which will pay for the equivalent of more than four million emergency meals for affected civilians.
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— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) December 1, 2023