Children’s content creator and popular YouTube figure Rachel Griffin Accurso, known as Ms. Rachel, is facing scrutiny from the antisemitism watchdog organization StopAntisemitism. The group has formally requested an investigation from U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi regarding allegations that Ms. Rachel may be financially profiting from promoting what they describe as “anti-Israel propaganda.”
On April 7, 2025, StopAntisemitism sent a letter asking for an inquiry into whether the beloved children’s entertainer has breached the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). The accusation stems from claims that her content has shifted focus following the October 7 Hamas attacks on Israel, as reported by the New York Post.
StopAntisemitism further contends that evidence of this alleged shift in content can be gleaned from her active social media presence, particularly on Instagram, where she has an impressive 2.5 million followers. In their letter, executive director Liora Rez stated:
“We urge you and your office to investigate whether or not Ms. Rachel is being remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda.”
Calls for Inquiry into Alleged Misrepresentation
As reported by The Daily Mail on April 8, 2025, the watchdog group claims that Ms. Rachel’s social media posts amplify misinformation typically relayed by Hamas, while notably neglecting to mention the casualties endured on the Israeli side. One specific example cited was an image shared by Ms. Rachel, purportedly showing a starving child in Gaza.
StopAntisemitism asserted that this child, Fadi al-Zant, who has cystic fibrosis, was misrepresented in the image. However, subsequent reports from The Washington Post indicated that al-Zant was indeed suffering from both malnutrition and cystic fibrosis.
The organization also accused Ms. Rachel of integrating casualty figures sourced from the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, claiming that these statistics do not differentiate between civilian and terrorist fatalities. Notably, Ms. Rachel referenced a figure exceeding 14,000 children killed, a statistic that the group disputes. While the state of Israel challenges this claim, the United Nations has reported that thousands of children have indeed lost their lives in Gaza amid the ongoing conflict.
Additionally, StopAntisemitism scrutinized Ms. Rachel for referencing claims concerning children succumbing to the cold in Gaza refugee camps during winter. They further allege that misleading images from Wikipedia were used in her posts. Despite these accusations, Ms. Rachel has publicly defended her intentions in prior responses to online criticism, though she has not specifically addressed the allegations of foreign financial backing.
In a May 2024 Instagram post, she expressed her concern for all children, stating:
“I care deeply for all children. Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the US – Muslim, Jewish, Christian children – all children, in every country.”
She also shared a heartfelt song praying for the safety of children, hostages, and civilians affected by the conflict in both Gaza and Israel. Notably, while StopAntisemitism has raised these concerns, they have not presented direct evidence that Ms. Rachel is receiving compensation for her posts. When approached for proof, Liora Rez confirmed the lack of direct evidence but emphasized:
“It’s not a secret influencers such as Ms. Rachel often have paid collaborations… We are merely asking the Attorney General to investigate.”
Rachel Griffin Accurso, at the age of 42, previously worked as a preschool teacher in New York and is known for her widely popular children’s show, Songs for Littles, on YouTube. Her channel has garnered over 10 billion views, earning her the recognition of a modern-day Mister Rogers. Ms. Rachel’s husband, Aron Accurso, is a music director on Broadway.
As of now, Ms. Rachel has not provided an official response to the allegations or the request for an investigation. Meanwhile, the Attorney General’s office has not indicated whether it will proceed with an inquiry.