Children’s entertainer Rachel Accurso, widely known as Ms. Rachel, is facing public criticism after screenshots circulated online appearing to show her Instagram account liking an antisemitic comment that read, “Free America from the Jews.”
The comment was posted beneath a now-deleted Instagram post from Accurso that expressed support for several countries, including Palestine, Sudan, Congo and Iran, according to reports.
Screenshots Spark Condemnation
Images of the comment and the apparent “like” spread quickly across X and other platforms, prompting condemnation from Jewish advocacy groups and concern from parents and educators who follow Accurso’s work.
The backlash intensified scrutiny of Accurso, whose brand is closely associated with young children and families.
Accurso Denies Intent, Calls It an Accident
In an emotional video shared on Instagram, Accurso denied endorsing antisemitism and said the interaction was unintentional.
“I thought I deleted a comment and I accidentally hit ‘like,’” she said, adding that the mistake reflected how easy it is to err online. Accurso also joked about struggling with technology, saying she is “not that good at touching things online.”
Her representatives did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Additional Screenshots Fuel Criticism
Further controversy followed after screenshots emerged showing an account claiming the comment may have been self-posted. Accurso responded with a brief comment that critics said echoed antisemitic conspiracy tropes, further intensifying backlash.
Advocacy Groups Push Back
HonestReporting, a media watchdog focused on anti-Israel bias, rejected Accurso’s explanation, arguing the incident aligned with what it described as a broader pattern of engaging with or amplifying antisemitic narratives.
StopAntisemitism.org has also previously criticized Accurso, including over her past amplification of Gaza-based photojournalist Motaz Azaiza, who has been accused of praising Hamas and making antisemitic statements.
A Beloved Brand Under Scrutiny
Accurso, a former preschool teacher, rose to prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic with educational sing-along videos aimed at supporting early language development. She now has millions of followers across Instagram and YouTube and has expanded her reach through a partnership with Netflix.
Given her enormous audience of young children, parents and media analysts say Accurso faces heightened expectations around her online conduct, with critics arguing that children’s entertainers are held to a different standard than creators with adult-focused audiences.
For more on this story, stay tuned to Que Onda Magazine.