The appointment of children's YouTuber Ms. Rachel to New York City Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's inaugural committee has ignited a firestorm of controversy.
According to One America News, Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Anne Accurso, has been a lightning rod for criticism due to her vocal opposition to Israel. She has accused Israel of committing "genocide" and has refused to collaborate with content creators who remain silent on the situation in Gaza.
In a video posted to TikTok in December 2024, she stated, "Over 14,000 precious children have been un-alived in Gaza. Gaza has the largest number of child amputees in history. We cant be silent about these kinds of conditions for children."
Pro-Israel advocacy groups have been quick to label her as a promoter of Hamas propaganda, accusing her of selective empathy by neglecting to mention the 1,219 Israelis murdered by the terrorist group on October 7, 2023. Former City University of New York trustee Jeffrey Wiesenfeld expressed his dismay, stating, "Ms. Rachel? She brings false charges against Jews. She smears Jews. What a disgrace." The Jewish civil rights watchdog group, StopAntisemitism, has also accused her of spreading pro-Hamas propaganda while ignoring the plight of Israeli children affected by the conflict.
Liora Rez, a director for StopAntisemitism, has called on Attorney General Pam Bondi to investigate whether Accurso is being compensated for disseminating Hamas-aligned propaganda to her millions of followers. Rez's letter to Bondi stated, "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." Rez further criticized Accurso, stating she "consistently amplifies misinformation from Hamas."
The controversy surrounding Ms. Rachel's appointment has raised questions about Mamdani's commitment to being a mayor for "All New Yorkers." The group StopAntisemitism remarked, "If Mamdani sought to reassure Jews that he would be a mayor for All New Yorkers, naming this rogues gallery to be advisors was not a good way to go about it." They even suggested that Jewish New Yorkers considering relocation could find welcoming communities in states like Florida and Texas.
In addition to her political stances, Accurso has faced backlash for celebrating Pride Month as a "children's" YouTuber and for incorporating pronouns in her videos aimed at children. These actions have further fueled the debate over her suitability for a role in Mamdani's inaugural committee, as critics argue that her views and actions are not in alignment with traditional values.
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