Popular children's YouTube personality Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Accurso, has found herself embroiled in a social media controversy after she accidentally 'liked' an antisemitic comment on one of her Instagram posts. The incident prompted an emotional apology video from the 43-year-old educator, who has faced previous accusations of antisemitism due to her vocal criticism of Israel's military actions in Gaza.
The Accidental 'Like' That Sparked Outrage
The controversy began when a fan direct messaged Accurso on Instagram to alert her about a disturbing comment beneath one of her recent posts. The now-deleted Instagram post featured a screenshot from her notes app with text reading: 'Free Palestine, Free Sudan, Free Congo, Free Iran.' Beneath this, a comment had been added stating: 'Free America from the Jews.' Screenshots circulating on social media platforms clearly showed that this offensive comment had been 'liked' by the author of the post.
'Hi rachel, just wanted to let you know there’s a comment under your latest post that says ‘free America from the Jews’ that says liked by the author. I’m sure that’s an accident so wanted to let you know,' the concerned fan wrote in their direct message.
Accurso responded promptly, stating: 'Deleted – how horrible – oh wait let me check – I did delete one like that.' She further clarified: 'Ya I believe I deleted that earlier right when I saw it! I hate antisemitism.'
An Emotional Public Apology
Following this exchange, Accurso posted a tearful video to further address the situation and defend herself against mounting criticism. In the emotional footage, she explained how the mistake occurred. 'So, I thought I deleted a comment and I accidentally hit "like and hide", I don't know how or why. I've accidentally liked comments before, it happens. I'm a human who makes mistakes,' she said through tears.
The educational content creator, whose videos for babies and toddlers have amassed hundreds of millions of views over the years, emphasised her personal connections to the Jewish community. 'I would never agree with an antisemitic thing like the comment. We have Jewish family, a lot of my friends are Jewish. I delete antisemitic comments,' she added.
Accurso expressed frustration with the unforgiving nature of online culture, stating: 'I feel like we can’t be human anymore online. And I’m so sorry for the confusion it caused. I’m so sorry if anyone thought that I would ever agree with something so horrible and antisemitic like that. I don't.'
Broader Context of Accurso's Activism
This incident occurs against the backdrop of Accurso's longstanding activism concerning the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The educator, who lives in Manhattan, has consistently focused her advocacy on the plight of Palestinian children affected by the conflict that began after Hamas invaded Israel on October 7, 2023, killing approximately 1,200 Israeli civilians.
Accurso has repeatedly highlighted the devastating toll the war has taken on Gaza's youngest residents. According to the Gaza Health Ministry, the conflict has resulted in 71,000 Palestinian deaths. In a December 2024 TikTok video, Accurso stated: 'Over 14,000 precious children have been un-alived in Gaza. Gaza has the largest number of child amputees in history. We can't be silent about these kinds of conditions for children.'
Her activism extends to powerful visual appeals. In May 2025, she shared a picture of an emaciated Palestinian child on Instagram, pleading: 'World leaders, please help this baby. Please look at her. Please, please look at her. Just, please look at her eyes for one minute. If you just think about a baby you love, think about a baby you care so much for, there's no way that we all don't know that you can't kill 15,000 kids.'
Political Recognition and Criticism
Accurso's advocacy has earned her both recognition and condemnation. In late December, she was appointed to New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani's inaugural committee, a group of over four dozen individuals responsible for organising the inauguration celebration and advising the mayor on early policy agenda items. Both Mamdani and Accurso share similarly critical views of Israel's actions in Gaza.
However, pro-Israel advocacy groups have accused Accurso of promoting Hamas propaganda and displaying selective empathy by rarely focusing on Israeli victims of the conflict. The watchdog organisation StopAntisemitism went so far as to name her a finalist for their 'Antisemite of the Year' designation.
This latest Instagram incident has reignited debates about the intersection of social media activism, human error, and the intense scrutiny public figures face when addressing complex geopolitical issues. As Accurso noted in her apology: 'I want to say that it’s OK to be human and it’s OK to make mistakes and I’m old, so I am not as good with touching things online, I guess. I have liked things by accident before.'
