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Children’s YouTube star apologises after liking ‘free America from Jews’ post
Ms Rachel says antisemitic ‘like’ was accidental as critics question moderation on her platform
A children’s Youtube star with millions of young viewers has apologised after briefly liking an Instagram comment that called for America to be “free from the Jews”, prompting anger and concern from Jewish users online.
Ms Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, said the incident was the result of a mistake while attempting to remove the comment, insisting she is “against all forms of hate, including antisemitism against the Jewish people”.
The controversy centres on a now-deleted Instagram post in which Accurso shared a message reading “Free Palestine, Free Sudan, Free Congo, Free Iran”, accompanied by national flags. Beneath the post, a comment added: “Free America from the Jews”.
Screenshots circulating online show the comment had been liked by several users – including Accurso – before being removed.
In a follow-up statement shared on Instagram, Accurso wrote: “This is from yesterday. People are allowed to make mistakes. I am super sorry for any confusion it caused. I delete antisemitism ANY time I see it. I am against all forms of hate, including antisemitism against the Jewish people.”
She later posted a video apology, appearing visibly emotional, saying: “So I thought I deleted a comment and I accidentally hit ‘like and hide’”.
Accurso added: “I would never agree with an antisemitic thing like the comment. We have Jewish family, a lot of my friends are Jewish. I delete antisemitic comments.”
Addressing criticism online, she said: “I feel like we can’t be human online anymore. And I’m so sorry for the confusion it caused. I’m so sorry if anyone thought that I would ever agree with something so horrible and antisemitic like that. I don’t.”
“I want to say that it’s OK to be human and it’s OK to make mistakes and I’m old, so I am not as good with touching things online, I guess. I have liked things by accident before,” she added.
The incident was initially flagged to Accurso by a follower in a private message, who wrote: “Hi Rachel, just wanted to let you know there’s a comment under your latest post that says ‘free America from the Jews’ that says liked by the author. I’m sure that’s an accident, so wanted to let you know.”
Accurso replied: “Deleted – how horrible – oh wait, let me check – I did delete one like that,” later adding: “I believe I deleted that earlier, right when I saw it! I hate antisemitism.”
While some supporters defended Accurso, others accused her of failing to adequately moderate antisemitic comments on her page. One critic wrote: “Your comments are full of blatant antisemitism that you allow to run rampant, but I’m sure you already know this.”
Despite the video apology, Accurso subsequently responded to a pro-Hamas account called “ThePalestineNewsNetwerk” which claimed that “They left the comment themselves”, with the children’s YouTube star commenting “ooooooohhhh” – leading many to question the sincerity of her apology.
Accurso has around 4.8 million followers on Instagram and more than 18 million subscribers on Youtube, where her Songs for Littles videos for toddlers regularly attract hundreds of millions of views. She has previously spoken out against Israel’s actions in Gaza and was named in late December to New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s inaugural committee, which later dissolved.
Jewish groups and social media users have increasingly raised concerns about antisemitic language appearing unchecked across high-profile online platforms, particularly when associated with figures whose audiences include children.
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