Ms. Rachel Is Not Backing Down From Speaking Out About Gaza, Even If It Costs Her Career

Yahoo

2 days ago

Ms. Rachel — the bubbly, sing-songy children's YouTuber personality who has probably caught the affection of a child you know and love — has made it clear that she won't stop speaking up about the children in Gaza, even if it means risking her career.
Known off-screen as Rachel Accurso, Ms. Rachel has built a massive brand with over 15 million YouTube subscribers, a Netflix deal, and a line of merchandise.
In a recent interview with NPR, when asked if she's received pushback from financial backers about her outspoken stance, she said, "There has been, but I wouldn't be Ms. Rachel if I didn't deeply care about all kids. 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."
Ms. Rachel has been speaking out for the kids affected by the tragedy in Gaza since 2024, when she first shared a video fundraising for children in war zones, including those in Gaza, Sudan, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, and Ukraine.
Since then, she's only gotten more outspoken, especially in the last month. In May, she shared a series of posts and videos of her meeting Rahaf, a 3-year-old girl who lost both her legs in an airstrike. Rahaf was able to be medically evacuated thanks to the help of the Palestine Children's Relief Fund.
"When I saw pictures of Rahaf in Gaza on the hospital floor, I saw the devastating consequences of endless bombing and continuous violations of children's human rights," Ms. Rachel wrote. "Rahaf is now thriving because she has access to medical care, food, water and a safe place to live. It's so clear what we need to give children so they can grow up into healthy, happy adults."
Ms. Rachel shared that Rahaf's father and two younger brothers are still in Gaza. Ms. Rachel said Rahaf and her mother, Israa, also a teacher, avoid eating during FaceTime calls with them because the family has so little food.
In another post, Ms. Rachel sings and dances with Rahaf in her signature pink T-shirt, blue jean overalls, and ever-cheerful tone. But her caption is somber: "We both love our children with all of our hearts. We want the same thing for them. But my son will have dinner tonight, a story and snuggle with me, school in the morning… and hers won't. If the situation was the other way around, what would I hope Israa would do for me?"
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This past week, Ms. Rachel addressed world leaders, calling out their silence. "Leaders, be so ashamed of your silence. Be so ashamed that you've seen the same images and videos that we've all seen, but they haven't moved you to do the right thing," she said. "Be so ashamed that you normally speak out for human rights. You normally speak out for children everywhere, but you won't know because they're Palestinian."
Ms. Rachel has received some criticism, like from pro-Israel group StopAntisemitism, who asked the DoJ to investigate Ms. Rachel over her posts about Palestinian children, arguing Ms. Rachel has been "remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers."
Ms. Rachel did not respond to the allegations, but made her stance clear in recent posts. "It's not a crime to say the children of Gaza should have food and medical care – it's a crime to keep it from them," she posted.
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She also reiterated her stance against all hate. In a post this week, she wrote, "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. Every child, person and every family deserves to feel valued, loved and safe."
To NPR, she said the criticism is "painful," but she sticks to her faith and advocacy. "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. And I know how deeply and equally I care for all children, and I do lean on my faith in that situation," she said.
"I recently sat down with someone who has a family member that was taken hostage, and sitting with her and hearing the harrowing accounts. Feeling her pain, the anguish, the desperation to get that loved one home, where that loved one belongs, and have the family be complete. If you sat with her as well, if you just sat with her, you would want more than anything for that family to be whole again and them to not be suffering immensely."
On social media, her voice does not go unnoticed.
"God bless Ms. Rachel. A true inheritor of Mr. Rogers's legacy," one person wrote after another applauded Ms. Rachel for speaking out against leaders who have stayed silent on tragedies in Gaza.
"Thank you for using your voice when so many with power choose silence. The children—and all Palestinians—deserve better. May more hearts follow your lead ❤️," another wrote in her comments.
"Thank you for being so human," someone else wrote on her video dancing with Rahaf.
"As a Jew I just want to say thank you. This shows nothing but insane kindness and compassion. Sending so much love," another said.
According to U.N. agencies, of the 40,717 Palestinian bodies identified as of January, one-third – 13,319 — were children. An additional 25,000 have been estimated injured, and another 25,000 hospitalized for malnutrition.
You can support and donate to the Palestine Children's Relief Fund here.
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