The entertainment world has reacted to the news that a ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Palestine in Gaza.
Yesterday (January 15), US president Joe Biden confirmed the deal, which will take effect this Sunday (January 19) and will see the withdrawal of Israeli forces in Palestine, along with the release of all the remaining hostages. The United Nations also responded that the deal allows the ramping up of the delivery of aid to Palestinians, per BBC.
Model Bella Hadid, who is of Palestinian descent – and has continually advocated for an end to the war with sister Gigi – shared on Instagram Stories a clip of Palestinians celebrating the deal. “My heart is in pieces”, she wrote. “There’s just so much to say”.
Rapper Macklemore, who released the singles ‘Hind’s Hall’ and ‘Hind’s Hall 2’ in benefit of Palestinian aid, shared his elation on social media with a clip of children hearing the news. “Tears….CEASEFIRE!!! FREE PALESTINE”, he wrote.
Scream actress Melissa Barrera, who was dropped from the horror film franchise after sharing a social media post in support of Palestine, shared a string of emojis expressing her relief and excitement, adding: “Until liberation”.
Kehlani, while celebratory, acknowledged the anxieties around the ceasefire deal while calling it a part of “first steps”.
“I know we all feel still deeply incredibly worried and mistrusting of the regime and its potentials, but also rn, imma cry at all the Gazan joy and relief,” she wrote on Threads, “worth celebrating. deeply.”
Paloma Faith expanded on these sentiments, writing in an Instagram Story she’s “almost sad and scared about the ceasefire now”.
“It worries me what they will do before the ceasefire and the aftermath and trauma endured by all those families who have witnessed unspeakable things, been tortured, lost family members, all the orphaned children, the childless parents, the PTSD they will live with forever,” she wrote.
“No where to live, no where to go, a wasteland…. It’s unthinkable and unforgivable”.
Other artists also stood firm on the seriousness of the fatalities in Palestine, along with what the country still faces. Primal Scream shared an Instagram Story with a picture of wounded Palestinian children, writing that the deal is a “ceasefire in name only”.
Rap trio Kneecap tweeted that “we must not forget what Israel has done”.
“They need to be sanctioned and their leadership arrested and prosecuted,” they wrote. “They’ve murdered 100,000 people, mostly kids, and left Gaza as an unliveable wasteland.”
Reuters reported that, since the ceasefire was announced, airstrikes were intensified in Gaza by Israeli forces.
Over the last year, the conflict also drew criticism from the likes of Roger Waters – who attacked Thom Yorke and Jonny Greenwod for their stance on the war – along with Massive Attack, Young Fathers, Brian Eno, and Fontaines D.C., some of whom, along with R.E.M, Bastille and others, read out letters from Palestinians suffering in Gaza as part of a ‘Voices For Gaza’ initiative in early 2024.
Brooklyn Borough President Antonio Reynoso honored Shyne with a key to the city during a ceremony held at the East Flatbush Young Men’s Mentorship Expo on Saturday. The recognition highlighted both his influence in hip hop and his contributions as a public figure and advocate. Reynoso also declared April 25, 2026 as “Shyne Day” in Brooklyn.
“Shyne embodies what is possible when a community believes in its young people, and the magic that can happen when young people are given the resources they need to thrive. East Flatbush raised Shyne, and it only made sense to present him with the Key to Brooklyn as we team up to deliver hope and opportunity to dozens of young men today,” Reynoso said at the event, as caught by BK Reader.
Shyne also addressed the crowd. “This is the community that raised me, and it’s important for me to pass that love forward,” he said. “There couldn’t be a better way to celebrate this milestone than coming back home and pouring into the next generation.” He also revealed that everyone in attendance would receive complimentary tickets to his 25th anniversary concert on May 2 at the Kings Theatre.
The show will mark 25 years since the release of his self titled debut studio album, which arrived on September 26, 2000. Even while Shyne was incarcerated at the time, the project debuted and reached number five on the Billboard 200 chart. It moved close to 160,000 units in its opening week.
Earlier this week, Shyne posted a video of himself standing outside the Kings Theatre on Instagram while promoting the upcoming performance. "Can’t wait to see you this Saturday, May 2 @kingsbklyn as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Shyne Album…..the celebration will continue @crownhilltheatre where I will meet, take pictures and party with you, my loyal supporters, who’ve made Shyne a Rap Legend," he captioned the post. Fans filled the comments with fire emojis in response.
