A modern-day Mr. Rogers is not backing down.
Ms. Rachel, an extremely popular YouTuber whom toddlers may adore even more than chicken nuggets and bubbles, told NPR’s “Here and Now” Tuesday that she’s willing to risk her career to advocate for children in Gaza.
“I wouldn’t be Ms. Rachel if I didn’t deeply care about all kids,” she told the outlet. “And I would risk everything, and I will risk my career over and over to stand up for them. It’s all about the kids for me.”
There’s quite a bit at stake. Ms. Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Accurso, has over 15 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, where kiddos tune in to watch the chipper children’s educator teach and sing in her trademark overalls and pink headband. She has a Netflix deal where episodes of her interactive teaching program are available with subtitles in 33 languages. She’s also got a toy chest’s worth of merch.
Accurso first made her stance about kids in Gaza public in May 2024, when she announced a fundraiser for children in Gaza and other war zones. Since then, she’s consistently drawn attention to the tragedy in the territory — but last month, she seemed to hit a nerve.
On May 21, she posted a video to her social media accounts in which she sang her popular song “Hop Little Bunnies” while a 3-year-old girl from Gaza named Rahaf, who lost her legs in an airstrike, danced beside her.
In response to the video, the pro-Israel group StopAntisemitism — which the Guardian says “doxes people it deems antisemitic” — wrote a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi calling on her to investigate Ms. Rachel for being “remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers.”
Ms. Rachel admitted to NPR that she finds the pushback “painful,” but has continued her advocacy.
“It’s really painful. And I have to remind myself that people don’t know my heart, and people try to tell you who you are, but you know who you are,” she said. “And I know how deeply and equally I care for all children, and I do lean on my faith in that situation.”
She doubled down on her stance on Tuesday with a statement on social media.
“I stand against all forms of hate and violence — including antisemitism, anti-Palestinian hate, anti-Arab hate, anti-Muslim hate and all hate meant to divide us and cause harm rather than bring us together,” she wrote. “Every child, person and every family deserves to feel valued, loved and safe.”
She continued, “Let’s continue to model empathy, compassion and teach our children that we are all connected.”
“When we hate, deny people human rights and attack each other, we all suffer,’ she concluded. “When we love, respect all people’s human rights and show compassion, we all thrive. We all rise.”
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Ms. Rachel also illustrated on Tuesday how her advocacy extends to every child by posting an Instagram Story in support of the Jewish community after a man attacked a peaceful protest calling for the release of Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday.
“Our hearts are with the Boulder Jewish Community and everyone impacted by this horrendous violence,” she wrote.
