By now, Daily Wire readers are probably familiar with children’s entertainer Ms. Rachel’s history of anti-Israel activism. Things reached a fever pitch this week when Ms. Rachel “accidentally” liked an Instagram comment calling to “free America from the Jews.” She claims the like was accidental, and insists that she remains a neutral child advocate.

In this piece, Vanessa Santos — a mother of two and D.C. public relations guru — explains why she doesn’t let her kids watch Ms. Rachel. As Vanessa explains, it’s not about protesting someone with objectionable views, but taking care about who you let your children grow to trust. If you’re a parent, you’d do well to consider her compelling case. — Tim Rice

***

Like many parents of young children, I spend a lot of time thinking about what enters our home.

I’m careful about what my kids eat, who they learn from, and especially what they watch. Children absorb authority long before they understand ideas, which makes early media choices far more consequential than we like to admit.

That is why my kids don’t watch Ms. Rachel.

The popular children’s entertainer, whose real name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, burst on the scene with her “Songs For Littles” videos, which help children develop speech with songs and puppets. It’s like Sesame Street for the YouTube age, and it became a sensation during the coronavirus pandemic as parents scrambled to support isolated children falling behind.

But in recent years, Ms. Rachel has become known for something else entirely: her criticism of Israel and defense of Hamas in Gaza.

Accurso claims that she’s a neutral humanitarian who uses her platform to advocate for children everywhere. But her actions tell a different story.

This week, the “Free Palestine” activist came under fire for liking an Instagram comment that said “Free America from the Jews.”

Accurso said she liked the comment by accident, mistakenly tapping the like button while trying to delete the comment. Her apology, which included a disavowal of antisemitism, satisfied some of her fans.

I’m not convinced. Whether or not she “accidentally” liked the comment, it’s hardly the first time that she’s cozied up to antisemitic interests.

In an August interview with Peter Beinart, she repeated disputed casualty claims and framed Israel as uniquely responsible for the suffering of children in Gaza, while omitting Hamas’s role in initiating and sustaining the war.

This was not an impulsive post. It was a deliberate media appearance in which a children’s entertainer used her credibility with parents to promote one-sided war messaging.

She campaigned for and has frequently appeared with Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who declined to renew New York City executive orders addressing antisemitism and boycotts of Israel, raising concerns among Jewish organizations.

These appearances do not exist in isolation. Ms. Rachel frequently uses her platform to criticize Israel and repeat false claims about the war in Gaza.

Antisemitism today rarely announces itself outright. It moves through selective outrage, euphemisms, and moral posturing that excuse violence against Jews. When a children’s entertainer begins to deal in this kind of rhetoric, it’s up to parents to take notice.

This is not about canceling a YouTuber. It is about boundaries. There are countless ways to teach language development without bringing activism into the playroom. Parents can choose content creators who are focused on children, not politically charged activism.

Children don’t need to understand antisemitism for it to harm them. They form trust in authority figures before they’re capable of evaluating what those figures stand for.

We’ve all seen how much children love Ms. Rachel. The 43-year-old isn’t going anywhere, and her brand is only growing. The children who love her videos now will grow with her and continue looking to her as a trusted source, much as previous generations looked to Mr. Rogers.

One day, these children will hear her talk about Israel. And that’s where the problem starts.

That’s why my children don’t watch Ms. Rachel. I don’t trust her to help shape their moral understanding. I won’t invite someone with these abhorrent views into my home.

Pressing play is not a neutral act. It is an invitation into our homes and into our children’s developing sense of authority, and that access carries responsibility.

Influencers are not entitled to parental trust. They earn or lose our trust by what they say and do.

Ms. Rachel has certainly lost mine.

***

Vanessa Santos is the founder and president of Renegade DC, a Washington, D.C.-based communications firm.

The views expressed in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of The Daily Wire.

Menu

Why I Don’t Let My Kids Watch Ms. Rachel