Why defending Ms. Rachel is a stand for basic humanity

YouTube educator Ms. Rachel is facing harsh criticism for her support of children in Gaza

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Children’s YouTube educator Ms. Rachel—real name Rachel Griffin Accurso—is the creator of Songs for Littles, an educational video series with millions of followers worldwide. Beloved by parents and toddlers alike, her videos use music and sign language to teach language, numbers and social-emotional skills. But recently, she has found herself at the centre of a firestorm of public criticism, not for anything in her content, but for expressing concern about children suffering in Gaza.

According to a New York Post headline, she “should be investigated for spreading Hamas propaganda.” The accusation stems from Instagram posts in which she prayed for children in Gaza and shared an image of two young girls whose home was destroyed. “They deserve to be children,” she wrote.

This humanitarian message, shared in a moment of personal compassion, has triggered a wave of vitriol. Ms. Rachel has since endured public attacks, viral backlash and even calls for the U.S. attorney general to investigate her.

To most observers, her words were an uncontroversial expression of empathy. But critics, including the U.S.-based advocacy group StopAntisemitism, which monitors antisemitic activity online, claimed her post echoed Hamas-aligned narratives and ignored Israeli suffering. They alleged that her content lacked balance by focusing primarily on Palestinian victims and called for a federal investigation.

Ms. Rachel’s Instagram activity has included sharing widely reported images of malnourished children in Gaza and referencing casualty figures provided by Gaza’s health ministry, which is controlled by Hamas.

In one emotional video, she held her infant daughter while displaying an image of a starving Palestinian baby and pleaded for global compassion and action. These posts were clearly intended to raise awareness of the humanitarian toll on children, but critics accused her of selective empathy.

In a clarifying post, Ms. Rachel responded directly: “I care deeply for all children. Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the U.S.—Muslim, Jewish, Christian children—all children, in every country. Not one is excluded.”

Her defenders point to her consistent efforts to support children in crisis. She has raised over $50,000 through Cameo to benefit Save the Children’s emergency fund for Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Her programming—widely praised for its warmth and inclusivity—has helped millions of children develop early language, emotional and social skills, all while making each child feel valued and seen.

In a tearful interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan—a British-American commentator known for challenging Western foreign policy—Ms. Rachel addressed the backlash: “Our compassion doesn’t have boundaries, or borders. We just love kids.”

The interview was posted on Hasan’s media platform Zeteo. Zeteo—founded in 2024 after Hasan’s departure from MSNBC—is a left-leaning outlet that describes itself as a “home for truth-tellers and truth-seekers.” It features prominent leftist voices such as Naomi Klein, Greta Thunberg and Cynthia Nixon, each known for their critiques of corporate power, climate inaction and establishment politics.

Hasan has himself faced accusations of antisemitism, but his defenders argue his focus remains on accountability and human rights.

Understanding the scale of suffering in Gaza helps explain why Ms. Rachel’s posts resonated with so many—and why the backlash against her is so deeply troubling.

The Gaza Strip, home to more than two million Palestinians, is governed by Hamas and has been the focus of repeated conflict with Israel, most recently following the Hamas-led attacks on southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, which killed approximately 1,200 people and triggered a massive Israeli military response.

The resulting devastation has led to widespread food shortages, infrastructure collapse and a severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza.

Despite Israel recently resuming limited aid shipments, the humanitarian crisis remains severe and children continue to face grave risks.

This is not just a geopolitical issue—it’s a test of our shared moral instinct. Ms. Rachel’s treatment signals a troubling trend: when even gentle calls to protect children are met with hostility, society risks normalizing moral indifference.

Ms. Rachel’s only “crime” was advocating for the welfare of children. Her message was not political—it was moral. Her critics are free to disagree. But to silence or criminalize her is a dangerous precedent.

“I think it should be controversial to not say anything,” she told Hasan.

She’s right. If we lose the ability to stand up for the innocent, regardless of who they are or where they live, we’ve lost more than just compassion. We’ve lost the moral thread that binds us together as human beings.

Gerry Chidiac specializes in languages and genocide studies and works with at-risk students. He received an award from the Vancouver Holocaust Education Centre for excellence in teaching about the Holocaust.