“Songs for Littles” Sparks Big Controversy: Anti-Semitism Watchdog Calls for Federal Probe of YouTube Star Ms. Rachel

By: Fern Sidman

Rachel Griffin Accurso, better known to millions of parents and toddlers as Ms. Rachel, has built a global following as the warm, sing-song educator behind “Songs for Littles” a massively successful early childhood development program on YouTube. But according to a report from The New York Post, Ms. Rachel’s public persona as a modern-day Mister Rogers has come under fire from a prominent Jewish civil rights watchdog group that accuses her of promoting Hamas-aligned propaganda to her vast online audience.

The allegations—outlined in a formal letter sent to former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi—come from the nonprofit organization StopAntisemitism, which is now urging federal authorities to investigate whether Ms. Rachel is being paid to spread foreign propaganda in violation of the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA). As The New York Post reported on Monday, the watchdog group is specifically concerned about several Instagram posts Ms. Rachel has made about children in Gaza, which they argue are misleading, one-sided, and potentially harmful.

Ms. Rachel’s “Songs for Littles” series has become a mainstay of digital parenting, offering screen-time solutions that combine educational songs with speech development techniques. Her videos, which have surpassed 10 billion views, have earned her widespread praise for their inclusivity, developmental value, and accessibility.

But as The New York Post report noted, her recent shift into more adult-targeted content on platforms like Instagram—where she commands an audience of 2.5 million followers—has triggered unexpected backlash. According to StopAntisemitism, Ms. Rachel’s posts have depicted children in Gaza in ways that closely mirror images and messaging promoted by Hamas and affiliated terror groups.

“Her posts have largely ignored the suffering of Israeli victims, hostages, and Jewish children,” said Liora Rez, Executive Director of StopAntisemitism, in the letter obtained by The New York Post. “She consistently amplifies misinformation from Hamas and other anti-Israel sources.”

At the heart of the group’s request is a provocative question: is Ms. Rachel being paid—directly or indirectly—by foreign interests to shape public opinion?

“Given the vast sums of foreign funds that have been directed toward propagandizing our young people on college campuses, we suspect there is a similar dynamic in the online influencer space,” Rez wrote. “We urge you and your office to investigate whether or not Ms. Rachel is being remunerated to disseminate Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers, as this may violate the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA).”

FARA, a federal statute dating back to 1938, requires individuals acting on behalf of foreign governments or political interests to disclose their relationships, activities, and compensation. Violations can result in civil or criminal penalties.

As reported by The New York Post, the posts cited by StopAntisemitism were all shared on Ms. Rachel’s Instagram feed—content generally aimed at adults rather than her toddler audience. Some posts include widely circulated images and stories from Gaza that have been heavily covered in global media outlets.

Among the most contentious examples, the group highlights a viral photo of a child who appeared to be suffering from starvation, with visible protruding bones. StopAntisemitism claims this image has been widely mischaracterized, alleging the child actually suffers from cystic fibrosis and was not experiencing famine-related malnutrition. They argue that the continued use of such imagery—without proper context—amounts to the amplification of misinformation.

Though Ms. Rachel has not responded publicly to the accusations, she has historically framed her more political or humanitarian content as appeals for compassion and awareness, not partisan messaging.

The controversy, first brought to light in The New York Post report, taps into a broader cultural battle over how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is represented in American media—particularly on social platforms where influence is fast, personal, and largely unregulated.

What makes this case uniquely explosive is Ms. Rachel’s position at the intersection of childhood education and online fame. Her transition from apolitical educator to emotionally expressive advocate has sparked a fierce debate about the role of digital influencers in shaping public opinion—especially when those influencers command loyal followings that include the youngest and most impressionable minds.

StopAntisemitism’s concerns extend beyond mere political disagreement. According to the information provided in The New York Post report, the organization argues that Ms. Rachel’s posts, by focusing exclusively on Palestinian suffering while ignoring Israeli casualties and hostages, help mainstream Hamas-aligned narratives in ways that could sow division and hatred among her vast audience of parents and children.

StopAntisemitism takes issue with Ms. Rachel’s posts highlighting the humanitarian toll of the Gaza conflict. One image in particular—a photo of emaciated child Fadi al-Zant—was cited by the group as a key example. While the organization claims this image was misleading, The New York Post report confirmed that the child’s mother told The Washington Post that Fadi was suffering from both cystic fibrosis and starvation. His image became a global symbol of Gaza’s humanitarian crisis before the temporary cease-fire took hold.

The watchdog group also objected to Ms. Rachel’s decision to share death tolls released by the Hamas-run Ministry of Health, which does not distinguish between civilian and militant casualties. While Israel has disputed the figure of 15,000 children dead, The New York Post report noted that similar casualty numbers have been echoed by United Nations agencies and widely reported in international media.

Furthermore, StopAntisemitism condemned Ms. Rachel’s sharing of reports about children allegedly dying from hypothermia during the winter in Gaza. The group argued that Gaza does not get cold enough for hypothermia to be a valid cause of death and accused her of using images lifted from Wikipedia. However, The New York Post report pointed out that multiple international media reports confirm that freezing winter mornings devastated poorly sheltered refugee camps from December through February, with documented cases of child fatalities linked to exposure.

StopAntisemitism has gone even further, accusing Ms. Rachel of parroting Hamas claims about indiscriminate Israeli bombing and alleged violations of the Geneva Convention related to aid restrictions. These accusations, they argue, contribute to the demonization of Israel and spread a one-sided narrative.

The New York Post report noted that these claims mirror language used in international legal disputes, including the controversial decision by the International Criminal Court to issue an arrest warrant for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for alleged crimes against humanity—allegations Israel rejects entirely.

The Israeli military maintains that it adheres to the laws of armed conflict and takes extensive measures to minimize civilian casualties during military operations in Gaza. Officials argue that Hamas embeds fighters and weapons in civilian areas, creating impossible conditions for surgical strikes.

Despite the mounting criticism, Ms. Rachel, 42, has remained largely silent in response to the latest allegations. According to The New York Post report, she declined to comment after the outlet shared the letter from StopAntisemitism.

However, in earlier posts—including a widely shared statement from May—she expressed profound sadness over the backlash she received after launching a fundraiser for children affected by war zones, including Gaza.

“I care deeply for all children,” she said in a tearful Instagram post. “Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the US—Muslim, Jewish, Christian children—all children, in every country. Not one is excluded.”

Ms. Rachel, who lives on Manhattan’s Upper West Side with her husband, Broadway music director and composer Aron Accurso, has long centered her brand on empathy, inclusivity, and kindness. Her defenders argue that her concern for the suffering of children in war zones is rooted in universal compassion—not propaganda.

As The New York Post report highlighted, the situation raises larger questions about the role of online influencers in shaping geopolitical discourse. With millions of followers and a trusted public image, figures like Ms. Rachel hold substantial power to sway public sentiment. But at what point does that power cross into foreign influence? And how should that be regulated?

Ms. Rachel has maintained that her posts and activism are driven solely by empathy. In one particularly emotional statement shared with her Instagram audience, she defended her decision to raise money for children affected by war, especially those currently living under siege in Gaza, as per The New York Post report.

“I think part of why people respond to the show is they feel that care — I see every child as I see my own. I love every neighbor. Any child suffering is in my heart. To do a fundraiser for children who are currently starving – who have no food or water – who are being killed — is human.”

In another widely shared video, she sang a lullaby-like prayer that sought to unify, not divide:

“This is a prayer for children in Gaza.

This is a prayer for children in Israel.

This is a prayer for all the children: please stop hurting them.

This is a prayer for all the civilians.

This is a prayer for all the hostages.

This is a prayer for all the innocent. Please stop hurting them.”

To her defenders, this is exactly what Ms. Rachel has always stood for: peace, love, and the universal value of every child’s life. But to critics, the messaging is more complicated.

According to The New York Post, Rez has acknowledged that Ms. Rachel is constitutionally entitled to her free speech. But Rez believes the sheer volume and tone of Ms. Rachel’s posts following Hamas’s October 7 terrorist attacks on Israel deserve scrutiny.

“It’s not a secret influencers such as Ms. Rachel often have paid collaborations on social media,” Rez told The New York Post. “That being said, we could not help but notice post 10/7, Ms. Rachel posting a massive barrage of anti-Israel propaganda. This was at the same time as other social media influencers were being paid to post.”

While StopAntisemitism did not present direct evidence proving Ms. Rachel has been paid by a foreign entity, the group is requesting a formal investigation by former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi. The rationale? If Ms. Rachel is being remunerated—by any foreign government, nonprofit, or proxy—to post politically aligned messaging, then she may be obligated under U.S. law to register as a foreign agent under FARA.

“We are merely asking the Attorney General to investigate,” Rez told The New York Post. “While Ms. Rachel is entitled to her opinions and to exercise her free speech rights, there are laws that require those being paid by foreign countries to disclose these things. Foreign agents must register.”

As previously reported by The New York Post, StopAntisemitism had already taken aim at Ms. Rachel’s social media posts highlighting the humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The group accused her of sharing misleading statistics from the Hamas-run Gaza Ministry of Health and using imagery that has been contested or contextually challenged by Israeli officials and fact-checkers.

The organization also objected to Ms. Rachel’s mention of child deaths from hypothermia, citing skepticism about Gaza’s climate. Yet international media reports cited by The New York Post corroborated that children in tent camps in northern Gaza died from cold exposure between December and February, with inadequate shelter and medical care contributing to the tragedy.