Ms. Rachel Under Fire for Speaking About Palestinian Children in Gaza

Ms. Rachel, a beloved children’s educator followed by millions worldwide, is now at the center of a heated political storm after a U.S.-based pro-Israel organization placed her on its list of nominees for “Antisemite of the Year”, not for any anti-Jewish rhetoric, but for speaking about the suffering of Palestinian children in Gaza.

Rachel Griffin-Accurso, known globally as Ms. Rachel, runs one of the most watched early childhood education channels on YouTube, with over 17 to 18 million subscribers. 

Her nomination by the organization StopAntisemitism has drawn sharp backlash from civil rights groups, lawmakers, Jewish activists, and child welfare advocates, who argue that humanitarian advocacy is being wrongfully reframed as hate.

StopAntisemitism included Ms. Rachel in its “Top 10 Finalists” for its controversial annual title, alongside figures like Tucker Carlson, Cenk Uygur, Bryce Mitchell, and actors Cynthia Nixon and Marcia Cross, all of whom have criticized Israel’s actions in Gaza.

The group accused Ms. Rachel of “pushing Hamas propaganda,” sharing what it called “debunked images,” inflating casualty figures, and ignoring Israeli child victims following October 7, 2023.

The group also criticized her for appearing with Palestinian journalist Motaz Azaiza, describing him as a “terrorist sympathizer,” and previously labeled her “Antisemite of the Week” in April.

Ms. Rachel’s advocacy gained global attention after she posted a video in May 2024 dancing with three-year-old Rahaf, a Palestinian child who lost both of her legs in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza.

She has also spoken about six-year-old Hind Rajab, raised funds for Gaza aid, became an ambassador for the Palestine Children’s Relief Fund, and even wore a dress featuring Palestinian children’s drawings at a public awards event.

In response to the accusations, Ms. Rachel addressed the controversy directly on Instagram, saying, “I hate how some people try to make this about Jewish people versus people who are antisemitic, when there are so many Jewish people, and people who support and love them, working tirelessly to end the genocide against Palestinians.”

In an earlier interview with Zeteo in May, she explained her motivation,“It’s sad that people try to make it controversial when you speak out for children that are facing immeasurable suffering. I think it should be controversial to not say anything.”

Her nomination triggered immediate defense from across the U.S. political spectrum. Democratic Congressman Ro Khanna publicly rejected the accusation, stating,  “Ms. Rachel is a preschool teacher who speaks up for starving children in Gaza. That is not antisemitism. I hope thousands will join me in standing up for her.”

Political commentator and former Obama speechwriter Jon Favreau also condemned the move, writing, “She is one of the kindest humans in public life, who has preached nothing but love for all children, everywhere… She hasn’t uttered a cruel word toward anyone, let alone antisemitism. This absolute garbage sets back the fight against antisemitism. What an embarrassment.”

Comedian Dave Smith criticized the group’s targeting strategy, saying,“Imagine thinking that attacking Ms. Rachel is a winning strategy… Attack the nice lady who makes a children’s show for the crime of feeling bad when Palestinian kids are slaughtered and maimed.”

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) issued a strong formal condemnation of what it described as a “smear campaign.” In its statement, MPAC said, “Ms. Rachel has courageously used her global platform to highlight the dire humanitarian crisis affecting Palestinian children… The accusations labeling her compassionate calls for humanitarian relief as ‘Hamas propaganda’ are unfounded, dangerously misleading, and designed to silence humanitarian advocacy.”

They also stated, “We categorically reject the malicious and baseless accusations… Now more than ever, voices advocating for humanity, compassion, and truth must be amplified, not suppressed.”

Meanwhile, actress Cynthia Nixon, another nominee, defended her stance by pointing to her own Jewish family background and Holocaust-survivor grandparents, repeatedly stating: “‘Never again’ means never again for anyone.”

According to Palestinian health officials cited in the coverage, more than 20,000 children have been killed in Gaza since October 2023, tens of thousands have been injured, and over 50,000 children have lost at least one parent.

StopAntisemitism, founded in 2018, describes itself as a watchdog against anti-Jewish hatred. However, critics argue that its recent actions reflect an expanding definition of antisemitism that includes humanitarian concern for Palestinians, a direction that has now placed a children’s educator at the center of a global political dispute.

For millions of parents, Ms. Rachel remains what she has always been — a teacher focused on learning, safety, and emotional development for children. For her supporters, this controversy now reflects a deeper conflict: whether speaking for suffering children has become an act of defiance in today’s political climate.