This well-known YouTuber initiated a mission to aid children in Gaza and other war-torn areas, prompting a flood of resentful remarks.
Last week, the popular social media influencer Rachel Griffin Accurso, also known as Ms Rachel, had a break from her usual uplifting content. Her message to her over 6.5 million followers on Instagram and TikTok was emotional, as she expressed the harsh reality of bullying.
"The bullying is so bad. It's so bad," she said heart-wrenchingly in a video posted to both platforms. Her face was in a close-up, tears streaming down her cheeks in a dark room. She wiped them away while speaking.
"That is who I am. I love my neighbor. I love every child," she continued. "Imagining for one second what a mom is going through, unable to feed her child or give her child clean water, or keep her child safe."
The negative comments started four days earlier after Rachel announced plans to raise money for children in war-torn locations, such as Gaza, through personalized video messages known as Cameos. In response, she faced criticism for not addressing the victims of Hamas' attack on Israel.
"Why aren't you also helping victims of Hamas' deadly October 7 attack on Israel?" questioned one commenter on Instagram.
"Children in Gaza? How about the children held hostage? Do you care about all children?" another asked on TikTok.
Responding to the criticism, Rachel clarified her intentions in the caption of her tearful May 16 video. "Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the US – Muslim, Jewish, Christian children – all children, in every country. Not one is excluded."
Unfortunately, this statement did not appease her critics, who continued to attack her for ignoring the suffering of Israeli children. When reached for comment, Rachel has not responded.
The Israel-Hamas war and recent protests on US college campuses have made it a challenging time for social media influencers to remain neutral in sensitive issues. The Ms Rachel episode demonstrates that even innocuous influencers can face intense targeting when venturing into hot-button topics like the Middle East.
Rachel is an educator who creates engaging and fun videos for parents and toddlers, featuring songs and games, with her series, "Songs for Littles", being watched by 9.8 million subscribers on YouTube. These videos, covering topics like learning words and reading, provide parents and young children with entertainment and education.
On May 12, Rachel announced her fundraising campaign on her TikTok and Instagram accounts. If followers wanted a personalized video message, they could request it for a fee, with the proceeds going to Save the Children's emergency fund for children affected by war, mentioning Gaza, Sudan, Ukraine, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo.
The video where she talked about her fundraising efforts was popular, with her saying, "Hopefully, I can make some little ones smile by giving them a personal video, and the money will go to help more children in unimaginable circumstances."
The same day, she shared a message highlighting the horrors of the ill-effects of war. "We should be ashamed of how children around the world are suffering."
Her efforts were a success with cameo requests pouring in, and within hours, she managed to raise $50,000 from 500 personal video requests. "Every penny from my end will go to [Save the Children] to help children in dire circumstances," she informed. Reached for comment, Save the Children has not responded.
As it was, after receiving the $50,000, Rachel stopped accepting more requests for personal videos to film and send them to the 500 people who had already requested them.
And then came the backlash. A few days later, she posted the tearful video, turning off the comments on her Instagram account. The light and bright tones she usually displayed in her apparel were replaced with a dimly lit room, making her barely visible, and clutching a blanket.
She did not provide details about the bullying but did turn off the comments and disable them on her YouTube channel and some Instagram posts.
However, she did receive supportive messages. "This is a moral litmus test, and you're on the right side," one commenter posted on her TikTok. "Stay strong."
Another replied, "You are the Mr. Rogers for our babies' generation. Thank you for using your platform so powerfully."
Since October 7, Hamas-led militants have killed approximately 1,200 people in southern Israel and taken about 250 hostages into Gaza. Israel launched a war on Hamas in Gaza in response, a conflict that continues. According to the United Nations Children's Fund, more than 14,000 children have been killed in Gaza since the war, with around 12,000 more wounded, and thousands still missing.
Despite taking a stand for children in Gaza, Rachel has faced backlash.
"Rafah, a city in southern Gaza, is filled with children, according to UNICEF spokesperson James Elder. He emphasized that safety, as defined by international humanitarian law, encompasses more than just freedom from attacks; safe water, adequate food, shelter, and medicine are also crucial components. Unfortunately, there's no safe haven for these needs in the entire Gaza Strip," he noted this month.
Rachel Accurso, a social media influencer, has utilized her platforms to raise funds for the ensuing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. She views herself as an advocate for Save the Children.
Giselle Ugarte, a specialist in online performance and personal branding, has acknowledged that becoming involved in such a controversial subject could be challenging for Accurso, who has built her personal brand around educating children.
"Ms. Rachel is regarded as an educational resource for young children and a non-threatening and secure atmosphere. Parents trust that their kids will not be exposed to potentially harmful content beyond her regular programming," she said.
Ugarte advises influencers to reflect on whether engaging with a divisive issue matches their mission and brand and account for potential repercussions, including criticism or even potential physical hazards.
Accurso has indicated that she will continue with her Cameo fundraising campaign and has resumed her appeals for aid for the kids of Gaza. In a post yesterday, she shared her emotional response: "I saw a photo of two babies from Gaza and their thighs are as thin as this (she made a circle sign with her thumb and forefinger). We cannot let children go hungry. That's not who we are."
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Despite facing criticism for her fundraising efforts, Rachel Accurso, the popular educator and creator of "Songs for Littles," decided to continue her Cameo campaign to support children affected by war, including those in Gaza. She expressed her concern for all children, regardless of their nationality or religion, and reiterated her commitment to helping them.
In light of the backlash, Rachel shared her emotional response, emphasizing the urgency to prevent children from going hungry. She used a poignant example of two thin-thighed babies from Gaza to highlight the gravity of the situation.
Source: edition.cnn.com
