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Parents and patriots were right to be alarmed when Rachel Griffin Accurso, better known as Ms. Rachel, was caught with her account having liked an explicitly antisemitic comment under one of her posts and then posted a tearful apology claiming it was an “accident” while she was trying to delete it. Her emotional video and public statement insisting she “hates antisemitism” did little to erase the screenshots circulating online showing the like, and the story has exploded across conservative and mainstream outlets.
The offending comment—reported to read “Free America from the Jews”—appeared under a post where Ms. Rachel listed countries she claimed to support, and at least four accounts had liked that ugly sentiment, including hers, according to multiple reports and screenshots shared online. Her explanation that she meant to hit “delete” but instead hit “like and hide” strains credibility for many people who follow how these platforms actually operate, and it raises real questions about whether influence and name recognition are shielding sloppy behavior.
What makes this worse is the follow-up behavior: rather than simply owning a mistake and moving on, Ms. Rachel entertained theories floated by a pro-Palestinian account that she had been “set up,” which many see as deflecting and manipulative. That defensive posture, coming after a pattern of partisan posts and public statements, has hardened critics who say she owes more than a teary video—she owes transparency and proof that she is not endorsing hate. The optics are awful for someone whose brand is built around the trust of parents and small children.
This episode is another warning about the mingling of influencer culture and political activism. Ms. Rachel has previously posted political messaging—“Free Palestine, Free Sudan, Free Congo, Free Iran” appeared on her feed—which makes it all the more reasonable for parents to expect stricter moderation and clearer boundaries from someone who markets to the youngest among us. Mainstream outlets have documented the fallout and the pressure on media organizations and political figures to respond, showing this is not a private misclick but a public accountability issue.
Hardworking Americans who value decency and common sense should demand better from the people we trust with our kids’ attention. Platforms must stop treating influential accounts as above the rules, and creators must understand that “accidents” are no longer an acceptable defense when hateful rhetoric spreads on their watch. Parents, educators, and even advertisers should take this as a cue to vet who gets a pass—and to insist that influencers acting in the public square be held to the same standards of honesty and responsibility as anyone else.
