Latest news with #StopAntisemitism
Express Tribune
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ms. Rachel refuses to work with creators silent on Gaza
Popular children's YouTube creator Rachel Griffin Accurso, widely known as Ms. Rachel, has publicly declared that she will not collaborate with anyone who has remained silent on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. In a July 24 Instagram post, Accurso criticized content creators with large platforms who haven't spoken out about the Israeli military campaign in Gaza, which has resulted in tens of thousands of Palestinian deaths since Hamas' 2023 attacks. 'I will always choose kindness, but I will never understand your silence,' she wrote. 'Especially from those with so much privilege – the uncancelable – who still remain in the shadows.' Best known for her educational YouTube series Songs for Littles, Ms. Rachel has built a following of nearly 15 million subscribers by teaching young children basic concepts through songs and visuals. Her recent advocacy, however, has drawn backlash from pro-Israel groups. In April, StopAntisemitism called on authorities to investigate whether she was promoting anti-Israel propaganda. The group accused her of spreading manipulated images of Palestinian children and labeled her a 'Hamas propaganda amplifier.' In an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan on Zeteo, Accurso defended her stance, saying, 'It should be controversial to not say anything.' She emphasized that her advocacy stems from empathy for children, not antisemitism. Accurso has partnered with Save the Children and continues to highlight Palestinian stories, including that of a 3-year-old girl injured in an airstrike. 'Kids feel I care about them deeply, and that's why I have this platform,' she said. Despite criticism, Ms. Rachel remains firm in using her voice to support Gaza's children.
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Ms. Rachel says she won't work with anyone who hasn't spoken out about Gaza
Popular children's content creator Rachel Griffin Accurso, known widely online as Ms. Rachel, said in a social media post that she would refuse to work with anyone who has not spoken out against the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. In an Instagram post on July 24, Accurso said she will "never understand" fellow content creators' silence on the treatment of Palestinians in the area, where Israeli forces have killed tens of thousands of people during the war sparked by Hamas' 2023 attacks on Israel. 'I will always choose kindness, but I will never understand your silence,' she said. 'I especially can't understand those with so much privilege - the uncancelable - who still remain in the shadows.' Ms. Rachel is known online for her YouTube series, 'Song for Littles,' with a channel amassing just under 15 million subscribers. Her videos focus mainly on teaching children nursery rhymes and basic concepts like colors, shapes and words. More: More than 100 aid, rights groups call for action as hunger spreads in Gaza Accurso targeted over advocacy Accurso has become a target of pro-Israel groups. In April, the advocacy group StopAntisemitism asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate if Accurso was 'being funded by a foreign party to push anti-Israel propaganda to skew public opinion.' The group accused the content creator of being an 'amplifier of Hamas propaganda,' saying images that she shared of children in Gaza were manipulated. In response, the creator appeared in an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, on his independent publication Zeteo, saying that criticism for her continued advocacy for Palestinian children is unfair and that it "should be controversial to not say anything.' Accurso said her advocacy does not come from a place of antisemitism, but rather a sense of empathy for children around the world. 'I've been blessed to get this platform. And kids feel that I care about them all deeply, and that's why I have the platform. Because they feel it through the screen, because it's genuine,' Accurso said. Accurso's continued advocacy Despite backlash she's faced from some, Accurso has continued to advocate for Palestinians in Gaza. She has teamed up with Save the Children, a humanitarian nonprofit, and has also used her platform to highlight the stories of various Palestinian children. In one post, she shared the story of a 3-year-old Palestinian child who lost both legs in an airstrike. '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,' Accurso said. Contributing: Reuters Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Ms. Rachel says no to content creators who have been quiet about Gaza
USA Today
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- USA Today
Ms. Rachel says she won't work with anyone who hasn't spoken out about Gaza
Popular children's content creator Rachel Griffin Accurso, known widely online as Ms. Rachel, said in a social media post that she would refuse to work with anyone who has not spoken out against the treatment of Palestinians in Gaza. In an Instagram post on July 24, Accurso said she will "never understand" fellow content creators' silence on the treatment of Palestinians in the area, where Israeli forces have killed tens of thousands of people during the war sparked by Hamas' 2023 attacks on Israel. 'I will always choose kindness, but I will never understand your silence,' she said. 'I especially can't understand those with so much privilege - the uncancelable - who still remain in the shadows.' Ms. Rachel is known online for her YouTube series, 'Song for Littles,' with a channel amassing just under 15 million subscribers. Her videos focus mainly on teaching children nursery rhymes and basic concepts like colors, shapes and words. More: More than 100 aid, rights groups call for action as hunger spreads in Gaza A post shared by Ms Rachel (@msrachelforlittles) Accurso targeted over advocacy Accurso has become a target of pro-Israel groups. In April, the advocacy group StopAntisemitism asked Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate if Accurso was 'being funded by a foreign party to push anti-Israel propaganda to skew public opinion.' The group accused the content creator of being an 'amplifier of Hamas propaganda,' saying images that she shared of children in Gaza were manipulated. In response, the creator appeared in an interview with journalist Mehdi Hasan, on his independent publication Zeteo, saying that criticism for her continued advocacy for Palestinian children is unfair and that it "should be controversial to not say anything.' Accurso said her advocacy does not come from a place of antisemitism, but rather a sense of empathy for children around the world. 'I've been blessed to get this platform. And kids feel that I care about them all deeply, and that's why I have the platform. Because they feel it through the screen, because it's genuine,' Accurso said. Accurso's continued advocacy Despite backlash she's faced from some, Accurso has continued to advocate for Palestinians in Gaza. She has teamed up with Save the Children, a humanitarian nonprofit, and has also used her platform to highlight the stories of various Palestinian children. In one post, she shared the story of a 3-year-old Palestinian child who lost both legs in an airstrike. '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,' Accurso said. Contributing: Reuters Fernando Cervantes Jr. is a trending news reporter for USA TODAY. Reach him at and follow him on X @fern_cerv_.
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
'This is sick': Jewish advocacy group slams Zohran Mamdani for sharing video mocking Hanukkah
Zohran Mamdani has been accused of mocking Hannukah. Stop Antisemitism, the Jewish advocacy group, blasted Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani for sharing a video mocking Hanukkah. The video was shared last year but it went viral as Mamdani is dominating headlines after his surprise victory in the primary. Some false claims were made over the video saying Mamdani, who was a rapper before his plunge into politics, was featured in the video. But he was not in the video and shared it on Hanukkah. Mamdani had posted the video in December 2024, adding the caption, "Happy 3rd night of Hanukkah from Astoria and Long Island City." The video originates from the 2015 parody album "Punjabi Christmas Album Hits" from the Geeta Brothers, a side project of Sikh-Canadian musician and comedian Jus Reign. Mamdani posted another video from the same album on Christmas Eve, this one based on "Jingle Bells." "Wishing you all a very merry Christmas from Astoria and Long Island City," he wrote at the time. — StopAntisemites (@StopAntisemites) "Zohran Mamdani posts Indian men cosplaying Jews, spinning dreidels and lighting the menorah," Stop Antisemitism wrote in a statement on X. "Our holidays and traditions are sacred and not for your comedic pleasure, Zohran Mamdani – this is sick," the group added, tagging the mayoral candidate. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo Mamdani has been accused of antisemitism during his campaign as well as he refused several times to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state. During a primary debate, he said he believed Israel has a right to exist. "As a Jewish state?" he was asked. "As a state with equal rights," Mamdani said. "I'm not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else," he explained later. StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez said last week that electing Mamdani mayor would not only be "catastrophic" for Jewish residents, but all who reside in the city. "If Zohran Mamdani was elected as mayor, it would be hands down catastrophic for Jewish residents of New York City," Rez said. "And we would even take it a step further where citizens of New York City in general, due to his very troubling stances on socialism, would greatly suffer as well."
Fox News
06-07-2025
- Politics
- Fox News
Jewish group slams Democratic NYC mayoral hopeful over 'sick' mockery of 'sacred' traditions
A Jewish advocacy group is blasting Democratic New York City mayoral nominee Zohran Mamdani for sharing a video mocking Hanukkah Jewish traditions on social media. The organization, Stop Antisemitism, says Mamdani posted the "sick" video to his X account last year. The video is originally from the Geeta Brothers Duet Group, a satirical and comedic duo who dressed themselves in stereotypical Jewish garb for the performance. "Zohran Mamdani posts Indian men cosplaying Jews, spinning dreidels and lighting the menorah," Stop Antisemitism wrote in a statement on X. "Our holidays and traditions are sacred and not for your comedic pleasure, Zohran Mamdani – this is sick," the group added, tagging the mayoral candidate. Mamdani had posted the video in December 2024, adding the caption, "Happy 3rd night of Hanukkah from Astoria and Long Island City." The video originates from the 2015 parody album "Punjabi Christmas Album Hits" from the Geeta Brothers. Mamdani posted another video from the same album on Christmas Eve, this one based on "Jingle Bells." "Wishing you all a very merry Christmas from Astoria and Long Island City," he wrote at the time. Mamdani's campaign did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital. Accusations of antisemitism have harried Mamdani's campaign from its outset. The self-proclaimed democratic socialist has refused multiple times to recognize Israel's right to exist as a Jewish state, and he has supported the BDS movement against Israel. "I believe Israel has a right to exist," he said during a mayoral primary debate in June. "As a Jewish state?" the moderator pressed. "As a state with equal rights," Mamdani said. He later elaborated on his opposition to Israel being a Jewish state in an interview with Fox 5. "I'm not comfortable supporting any state that has a hierarchy of citizenship on the basis of religion or anything else," he said. Mamdani, a Muslim, has also faced criticism for refusing to condemn the phrase "globalize the intifada." StopAntisemitism founder Liora Rez argued last week that electing Mamdani mayor would not only be "catastrophic" for Jewish residents, but all who reside in the city. "If Zohran Mamdani was elected as mayor, it would be hands down catastrophic for Jewish residents of New York City," Rez told Fox News Digital. "And we would even take it a step further where citizens of New York City in general, due to his very troubling stances on socialism, would greatly suffer as well." "I think individuals who are concerned that Zohran Mamdani is antisemitic have every single right to be concerned considering his past behavior," Rez added. "We can list dozens of examples of his past antisemitic adjacent and direct antisemitic actions."
