Rachel Griffin Accurso, better known as “Ms. Rachel,” has recently faced backlash over her comments. Best known for her YouTube series Songs for Littles, Accurso is a beloved figure in millions of households for her toddler-focused educational videos. However, her recent advocacy for Palestinian children caught in the war in Gaza has led to online accusations of antisemitism, charges she strongly denies.The controversy began gaining traction after Ms. Rachel posted about a 3-year-old Gazan girl named Rahaf, who lost her legs in an airstrike. The post, part of a series highlighting children affected by the Israel-Gaza war, stirred support and outrage alike. A conservative group called StopAntisemitism named her “Antisemite of the Week,” accusing her of spreading Hamas propaganda and favouring Palestinian victims over Israeli ones.In response to the accusations, Accurso clarified, “This accusation is not only absurd, it’s patently false.” She defended her posts, saying her work has always been about advocating for all children. “Caring about children in Gaza is a direct continuation of the work I’ve been doing most of my life,” she said in an email.Accurso has posted more frequently about Gaza, which she acknowledged, citing the scale of the humanitarian crisis. “The idea that caring about one group of children prevents us from caring about another is false,” she added. Supporters like podcast host Tommy Vietor and journalist Mehdi Hasan argue that her posts reflect compassion, not bias.Who is Ms. Rachel?
- After her brother Thomas was diagnosed with conversation pause, Rachel Griffin Accurso, a former Maine professor and singer, launched Songs for Littles in 2019.
- Popularity fast rose for the educational videos, which use songs to teach speech, emotional development, and social skills.
- Her YouTube network currently has over 14 million subscribers and more than a billion opinions. Netflix began licensing episodes of her show in 2025, helping to increase her estimated net worth to around$ 10 million.
- Accurso is a family of Susannah, a surrogate-born child, and Thomas, age 7, who was born in San Francisco, California, on a different platform than YouTube.
- Her father, artist Aron Accurso, is a creative collaborator in the Songs for Littles job. They have pledged$ 1 million to the World Food Program USA to assist malnourished children all over the world.
- Accurso’s expanding influence on social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok has made it possible for her to speak directly to parents, where she sometimes shares her thoughts on issues like universal child care and child safety in conflict zones.
