Topics: YouTube, Social Media, Israel, Racism
Child-friendly content creator Ms. Rachel has issued a tearful apology to her millions of followers after liking a comment on Instagram that she described herself as 'antisemitic'.
The popular YouTuber, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, is beloved by parents around the world and regularly accrues hundreds of millions of views on her educational videos for little ones.
But the 43-year-old singer-songwriter, known for her exuberant positivity, stirred up controversy among some in her audience when she used her vast platform to advocate for the children in Gaza as they faced 15 months of shelling and starvation.
Her advocacy has not ended in the three months since a ceasefire deal was signed, after which at least a further 450 Gazans have been killed by occupying Israeli forces, according to Chatham House. But Ms. Rachel landed herself in hot water this week when she liked a comment stating 'Free America from the Jews'.
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The antisemitic statement was left by a user beneath one of her posts calling for the liberation of people trapped in some of the worst conflicts currently ravaging the world. In the initial post, the YouTuber called for a 'Free Palestine, Free Sudan, Free Congo, Free Iran'.
While this did not anger her followers, a screenshot showing the child-friendly content creator 'liking' a comment below bewildered some of her fans, even prompting some to question her directly.
Once she was made aware of the situation, the comment was deleted and a post was shared on Instagram explaining that she had liked it by accident. But with anger pouring in, the usually upbeat creator followed up with a tearful video apology.
"So I thought I deleted a comment, but I actually hit like and hide," Ms. Rachel explained, with emotion breaking into her voice.
She then added that she tried to delete every antisemitic comment that she sees below her content, continuing her explanation: "I would never agree with an antisemitic thing like the comment. We have Jewish family, a lot of my friends are Jewish."
The YouTube star added that the mistake left her feeling like 'we can’t be human anymore online' and repeated a sentiment she has expressed previously.
With tears welling up, she said: "I’m so sorry if anyone thought that I would ever agree with something so horrible and antisemitic like that. I don’t."
With a characteristic turn towards a positive message, Ms. Rachel added: "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."
Many of her 4.8 million followers said they knew from her character that it must have been a mistake, with one telling the kids' content creator: "Do not be broken up over it. As a Jew who follows you, I wouldn’t have thought for a second that you meant to do it on purpose.
"Not a single second. Not even a millisecond."
