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One widely shared post showed a sick Gazan child and implied Israel was causing “famine.”
By Aaron Sull, Jewish Breaking News
Ms. Rachel, one of the most familiar faces in children’s media, has landed on StopAntisemitism’s list of finalists for its “Antisemite of the Year” award — a nomination that has pushed the YouTube star into a political fight she never expected to be in.
Ms. Rachel, whose legal name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, is a former preschool teacher who became a household name during the pandemic through her YouTube series “Songs for Littles.” Although her gentle, teacher-next-door persona has made the 42-year-old a rare household name in early-childhood education, Ms. Rachel’s descent into Hamas narratives on Gaza has drawn fierce backlash.
Among the social-media posts accusing Israel of “genocide,” one of Ms. Rachel’s most widely shared images showed a sick Gazan child and attributed the child’s condition to “famine,” implying Israel was starving civilians. On November 4, she attended Glamour’s “Women of the Year” event in a dress decorated with artwork created by Palestinian children. She also has invited Motaz Azaiza, a Palestinian journalist who has openly supported Hamas, to appear as a guest on her show.
Earlier this year, StopAntisemitism filed a Justice Department complaint accusing her of violating the Foreign Agents Registration Act. But despite the controversy, Ms. Rachel has rejected claims her posts are about children caught in conflict, not politics.
“All children have the right to food, water, medical care and education. All children should be protected from violence,” the YouTube star wrote in April. She later told The New York Times saying she rejects any framing of her advocacy as antisemitic.
The group’s top-10 list is a mix of political lightning rods and culture-war regulars: Tucker Carlson, Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian, Cynthia Nixon, Marcia Cross, Guy Christensen, Stew Peters, Calla Walsh, and Bryce Mitchell, who has publicly denied the Holocaust. Three finalists will advance to a public vote.
Her nomination sparked quick pushback. Rep. Ro Khanna said she’s being attacked for speaking up for starving children in Gaza. Christensen, another finalist, mocked the contest outright and joked that being listed with her was an “honor.”
The “Antisemite of the Year” award was launched by StopAntisemitism in 2019 as a public campaign to spotlight individuals the group believes are promoting antisemitism or anti-Israel extremism. Each year, the watchdog releases a top-10 shortlist drawn from across the political spectrum and then invites the public to vote on the final winner. “Last year’s award went to Candace Owens while previous recipients have included Rashida Tlaib, Ilhan Omar, and Kanye West, who infamously professed admiration for Adolf Hitler.
Aside from Ms. Rachel, other nominees for 2025 include Tucker Carlson, Cenk Uygur, Ana Kasparian, Cynthia Nixon, Marcia Cross, MMA fighter Bryce Mitchell, influencer Stew Peters, activist Calla Walsh, and social-media personality Guy Christensen. Three finalists will advance to a public vote, with the watchdog group expected to announce the names in the coming days
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