- Ms. Rachel, a beloved children’s content creator, defended her posts about Gaza, claiming her intention is to protect vulnerable children. She emphasized that all children deserve protection from violence and basic needs, regardless of their background.
- StopAntisemitism, a Jewish civil rights group, has called for a DOJ investigation, accusing Ms. Rachel of spreading pro-Hamas propaganda.
- The group points to disputed death toll figures and a photo misrepresenting a child’s condition as evidence of misleading content.
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Rachel Griffin Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel on YouTube, is a staple in many family households. Her educational videos teach young children vital developmental milestones, from speaking and sign language to songs and emotions. However, she is now at the center of public scrutiny following posts she made about the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Pro-Israel group calls for DOJ investigation into Ms. Rachel
A pro-Israel organization, StopAntisemitism, called on the Justice Department to investigate Ms. Rachel, alleging she used her platform to spread pro-Hamas propaganda. The organization claims that her recent posts, particularly those highlighting the suffering of children in Gaza, are unbalanced and misleading, with some content disputed by Israel.
After staying silent on the situation, Ms. Rachel seemed to address the backlash in an Instagram post on Thursday, April 17. In the post, she explained standing up for children, especially the most vulnerable, is the right thing to do. She added all children deserve protection from violence and access to basic needs, regardless of where they live.
StopAntisemitism, a Jewish civil rights watchdog group, has pointed to specific posts in which Ms. Rachel shared the death toll reported by the Hamas-run Gaz Health Ministry, a figure Israel disputes but the United Nations accepts. The group also criticized a picture of a child in Gaza suffering from cystic fibrosis, arguing that she misrepresented the condition as malnutrition.
One of the group’s concerns centers on Ms. Rachel’s growing engagement with the Israel-Palestinian conflict. Since October 2024, they claim she posted over 50 times on the issue, prompting StopAntisemitism to suggest that a foreign entity may be behind her sudden advocacy.
Liora Rez, director of StopAntisemitism, said that the influencer’s shift in focus raised red flags.
“Social media influencers increasingly get paid to post. When a child-centered personality like Ms. Rachel begins posting Hamas-aligned messages, which are so out of character, it draws our attention,” Rez said.
Group questions Ms. Rachel’s care for ‘all kids’
In response to Ms. Rachel’s recent post defending herself, StopAntisemitism claimed Ms. Rachel was being one-sided.
“Ms. Rachel claims to be ‘for all kids,’ but her silence on the suffering of Jewish children tells a different story,” they added.
Previously, Ms. Rachel consistently stated that she cares for all children — whether Palestinian, Israeli, American, Muslim or Jewish — and emphasized no child should be excluded. In 2024, she launched a fundraiser to support children in war zones, including those living in Gaza.
It is unclear whether the Department of Justice is actively investigating Ms. Rachel, though the New York Post confirmed that the agency received the letter from StopAntisemitism.
