The DJ and producer Zedd is known for his catchy music and rumored romance with Selena Gomez, but the artist is also dedicated to making a difference in the world. He organized a fundraising concert called WELCOME! that benefits the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), putting together a star-studded crew including Camila Cabello, Daya, Halsey, Bebe Rexha, Imagine Dragons, Incubus, Machine Gun Kelly, Macklemore, Miguel, Mija, Skrillex, and Tinashe.
While at the benefit, Zedd opened up about why the human rights organization means so much to him, especially in the wake of the immigration ban that targeted particular countries with mostly Muslim citizens. For him, it’s personal. Why? He’s an immigrant too.
The musician was born in Russia, raised in Germany, and now lives in the United States.
“For the people who don’t know, I was born in Russia. My family moved to Germany when I was a kid, to start a better life, essentially. I was really lucky to grow up in Germany, and one day decided that I wanted to move to America to pursue my dream and be an artist. I got a visa, that’s what I’m in America on. Which means that at any time, I could be denied and that’s what happened to some people and I thought that was really…It’s heartbreaking,” he EXCLUSIVELY told us.
“And you see these people talk, they didn’t do anything wrong. They had no intentions. Nothing bad. They just wanted to live their life and give their family another chance.”
He also opened up about why it’s so important to start a conversation about these issues, even if you feel like you can’t make a difference. Such empowering words! It’s awesome to see an artist standing up for what they believe in and trying to make a difference.
Reporting credit: Liam McEwan
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