Unmasking Zionism: Diddy, Chevron, and Greater Israel
Music, Resistance, and Justice for Palestine and Lebanon
Today’s Newsletter Highlights
Welcome to House of Magdalena! Thank you for joining me, Illesha Magdalena, at the intersection of culture and politics. In today’s issue we’ll discuss:
Diddy’s Zionist Connections
Macklemore’s Hind’s Hall Two and Palestine Will Live Forever Festival
What do the Israeli Attacks on Lebanon Have to do with “Greater Israel”?
This week’s #BoycottChevron Campaign
And as always, be sure to check out my Pro-Palestinian Artists Spotify playlist!
Diddy's Zionist Connections
In recent months, Diddy has been hit with a high-profile arrest and countless lawsuits filed against him. Among the names involved in these cases are some of his high-powered Zionist connections.
Among the most damning is the lawsuit filed by music producer Rodney "Lil Rod" Jones, who accuses Diddy of sexual assault, involvement in an Epstein-style sex trafficking ring, and threats of violence. Jones alleges that Diddy hosted drug-fueled parties featuring underage sex workers, purportedly funded by influential figures like Lucian Grainge, CEO of Universal Music Group.
Grainge has been a supporter of pro-Israel causes, including a fund for Israeli Olympic athletes. Grainge was seen attending a lavish Friends of the IDF gala in 2016, likely following a significant contribution to the pro-occupation NGO. His wife, Caroline Grainge, also financially backs several Zionist organizations.
Grainge’s close associate and personal friend, Haim Saban, also affiliated with UMG, is an Israeli-American media proprietor, investor, musical composer and producer of records, film, and television. He is known for being a major donor and influential figure within the Democratic Party and a mega-donor to Zionist causes like the Friends of the IDF.
Furthermore, Clive Davis, a music executive who helped bankroll Diddy’s record label in the 1990s, also shares connections to Zionism. Davis, like Grainge and Saban, has been a longtime supporter of Israel and has worked with pro-Israel advocacy organization Creative Community for Peace. His close personal and professional ties to Diddy extend decades back, and his influence in the music industry has been strong throughout.
Notably, Diddy publicly expressed support for Israel on two occasions in October 2023. On October 8, he posted on X in support of Israel.
Later that month, he reportedly signed the No Hostage Left Behind letter thanking President Biden for his “leadership” in Gaza and Israel.
Macklemore’s Hind’s Hall 2 and Palestine Will Live Forever Festival
Macklemore just released Hind’s Hall 2, a bold statement on U.S. foreign policy, and he isn’t afraid to name drop. In the song, he raps, “Hey Kamala, I don’t know if you listening, but stop sending money and weapons...”, directly calling out U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris and criticizing the financial and military support the U.S. provides to Israel.
Following the success of the first Hind’s Hall, which became an anthem for pro-Palestine protests, Macklemore now teams up with Palestinian rapper MC Abdul, Palestinian-American author and comedian Amer Zahr, and Arab-American singer Anees Mokhiber to amplify the voices of those impacted by the genocide in Gaza.
All proceeds from Hind’s Hall 2 will go toward the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA), continuing the charitable precedent set by the first Hind’s Hall release.
Macklemore’s Palestine Will Live Forever Festival
Macklemore also organized the Palestine Will Live Forever Festival in Seattle on September 21. The festival lineup was a celebration of Palestinian culture and solidarity, featuring performances from teenage rapper from Gaza, MC Abdul, rapper Eddy Mack, singer Norhan, spoken word poet Suheir Hammad, and more. Motaz Azaiza, the filmmaker who brought the world important but harrowing footage from Gaza, was also in attendance.
Macklemore used the event to raise awareness and funds for key organizations, including UNRWA, Palestine Children's Relief Fund, and more.
Notably, in front of a packed crowd, Macklemore passionately shouted, “Fuck America,” which disappointingly ended up being the main focus of mainstream media coverage of the event.
Despite the media’s narrow focus on his “Fuck America” remark, Macklemore’s genuine commitment to justice is clear from his music, fundraising, and outspoken advocacy.
Lebanon and “Greater Israel”: What the Media Isn’t Telling You
As Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon killed 500 Lebanese people yesterday, there’s more at play than meets the eye. What if I told you Israel’s expansionist ambitions are the real reason behind these attacks?
The concept of Greater Israel refers to an expansionist vision where Israel extends its borders beyond its current limits, including not only Gaza and the West Bank in Palestine, but Lebanon, Jordan, and more. This vision is rooted in religious and nationalist ideologies and is most closely associated with the Likud Party, of which Benjamin Netanyahu is the most prominent leader.
Recent actions, like Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich presenting a map of “Greater Israel” in March of 2023, show that the Greater Israel vision remains influential.
Israel’s policies—like expanding settlements in the West Bank—also illustrate this expansionist ideology, make efforts for peace impossible, and contribute to escalations like those in Lebanon, where the battle for land takes precedence over human life.
Tiktok failed to load.Enable 3rd party cookies or use another browser
Take Action: This Week’s #BoycottChevron Campaign
Big Oil is profiting from genocide. Chevron is fueling Israel’s war machine, making billions while Palestinians are dying. This Week of Action could change that. Here’s how you can help.
Chevron’s Complicity in Genocide
Chevron is a key player in Israel’s military operations, supplying fossil fuels that power attacks on Palestinians. Despite claiming to protect indigenous lands, Chevron profits from Israel’s occupation and apartheid, making an estimated $1.5 billion from Israeli gas fields in 2022 alone.
Chevron’s partnership with Israel supports military strikes that have killed hundreds of thousands of Palestinians and devastated Gaza’s infrastructure. International law condemns corporations aiding genocide, and Chevron risks serious consequences for its involvement.
Take Action Now
Join the #BoycottChevron campaign, backed by the Palestinian BDS movement, to demand Chevron divest from Israel and end its support for genocide. During this Week of Action (Sept 23-27), we’re aiming to collect 100,000 signatures on the pledge to boycott Chevron, Texaco, and Caltex gas stations.
Help us stop Chevron from profiting off Palestinian suffering. Take the pledge today.
Thank You
Let me know what you think by commenting below, and don't forget to share this newsletter with your friends and hit the like button. Together, we can tip the cultural scales in support of justice.
Subscribe for just $5 for my bonus content and to join the conversation with comment access. By subscribing at the $5 level, you also enable me to keep my high-quality free content free!
Thank you for being part of this community!
In Solidarity,
illesha magdalena
For more updates, follow me on: