Pop superstar Olivia Rodrigo is once again using her voice and her vast platform to bring attention to the humanitarian crisis unfolding in Gaza. Today, July 22nd, the three-time Grammy winner reshared a striking post on her Instagram Story that expressed horror at the mass starvation of children in Palestine and called out the silence from public figures who typically advocate for children’s welfare.
“I never thought I would see babies deliberately starved to death,” read the post, which Rodrigo amplified to her 35+ million Instagram followers. “I never thought that people I respected and who always defended children would also see them and remain SILENT.”
The bold resharing comes just 10 days after Rodrigo publicly broke her silence on the situation in Gaza, posting a heartfelt message on July 12th mourning the loss of innocent life and pledging direct aid. In that statement, the Guts singer declared:
“There are no words to describe the heartbreak I feel witnessing the devastation that is being inflicted upon innocent people in Palestine. Mothers, fathers, and children in Gaza are starving, dehydrated, and being denied access to basic medical care and humanitarian aid,” Rodrigo wrote.
“There is no child in Israel, Palestine, or anywhere in the world who deserves to suffer through what we’re seeing these children have to endure. It is horrific and completely unacceptable. To give up on them is to give up on our shared humanity.”
She added that she had made a donation to UNICEF “to help support the victims of this horrifying situation” and encouraged others to donate if they have the means.
A Voice That Doesn’t Stay Silent
Rodrigo’s statements arrive in a moment where public commentary on Palestine is highly polarizing and often career-altering. A-listers have either remained quiet or issued vague calls for “peace” amid accusations of genocide, starvation blockades, and war crimes in Gaza.
But Rodrigo’s growing legacy as a socially engaged pop icon seems to be deepening. The SOUR singer has consistently proven herself willing to speak out, even when it risks backlash. She has previously:
- Advocated for reproductive rights following the overturning of Roe v. Wade
- Promoted girls’ education and immigrant rights in multiple campaigns
- Encouraged youth voter registration through nonpartisan efforts
- Publicly supported Black Lives Matter following the murder of George Floyd
- Urged COVID vaccinations in partnership with the Biden administration
- Joined the ‘No Kings’ protest in support of democratic reform and anti-authoritarian movements
Now, she’s adding her voice to those condemning the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza, where more than 59,000 Palestinians have reportedly been killed since the beginning of Israel’s military operation in October 2023, according to sources including Al Jazeera. The United Nations has warned of “famine-like conditions” across Gaza as humanitarian access remains blocked and essential infrastructure destroyed.
