A contemporary-day Mr. Rogers just isn’t backing down.
Ms. Rachel, a particularly fashionable YouTuber whom toddlers could adore much more than hen nuggets and bubbles, informed NPR’s “Here and Now” Tuesday that she’s prepared to threat her profession to advocate for youngsters in Gaza.
“I wouldn’t be Ms. Rachel if I didn’t deeply care about all kids,” she informed the outlet. “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.”
There’s fairly a bit at stake. Ms. Rachel, whose full identify is Rachel Accurso, has over 15 million subscribers on her YouTube channel, the place kiddos tune in to observe the chipper youngsters’s educator train and sing in her trademark overalls and pink headband. She has a Netflix deal the place episodes of her interactive educating program can be found with subtitles in 33 languages. She’s additionally acquired a toy chest’s value of merch.
Accurso first made her stance about youngsters in Gaza public in Could 2024, when she introduced a fundraiser for youngsters in Gaza and different conflict zones. Since then, she’s constantly drawn consideration to the tragedy within the territory — however final month, she appeared to hit a nerve.
On Could 21, she posted a video to her social media accounts through which she sang her fashionable tune “Hop Little Bunnies” whereas a 3-year-old lady from Gaza named Rahaf, who misplaced her legs in an airstrike, danced beside her.
In response to the video, the pro-Israel group StopAntisemitism — which the Guardian says “doxes people it deems antisemitic” — wrote a letter to Legal professional Basic Pam Bondi calling on her to analyze Ms. Rachel for being “remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers.”
Ms. Rachel admitted to NPR that she finds the pushback “painful,” however has continued her advocacy.
“It’s really painful. And 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,” she mentioned. “And I know how deeply and equally I care for all children, and I do lean on my faith in that situation.”
She doubled down on her stance on Tuesday with a press release on social media.
“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,” she wrote. “Every child, person and every family deserves to feel valued, loved and safe.”
She continued, “Let’s continue to model empathy, compassion and teach our children that we are all connected.”
“When we hate, deny people human rights and attack each other, we all suffer,’ she concluded. “When we love, respect all people’s human rights and show compassion, we all thrive. We all rise.”
Ms. Rachel additionally illustrated on Tuesday how her advocacy extends to each baby by posting an Instagram Story in assist of the Jewish group after a person attacked a peaceable protest calling for the discharge of Israeli hostages in Boulder, Colorado, on Sunday.
“Our hearts are with the Boulder Jewish Community and everyone impacted by this horrendous violence,” she wrote.
