Rachel Griffin Accurso, the social media creator and teacher known as Ms. Rachel, has faced online bullying following the announcement of her fundraiser for children in conflict zones, including the Gaza Strip.
Accurso, who boasts 2 million followers on Instagram and 9.73 million YouTube subscribers, announced her fundraiser on Sunday. She emphasized that “every penny” of the donations would go toward the child-focused humanitarian nonprofit Save the Children.
On Thursday, Accurso shared an emotional Instagram Reel, wiping away tears as she described the negative reactions to her fundraising efforts. She revealed that she had received comments accusing her of not caring about “all kids.”
“That is who I am,” she stated in the video. “I love my neighbor; I love every child. 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.”
She reiterated this message in her caption, writing that she cares “deeply for all children.”
“Palestinian children, Israeli children, children in the US — Muslim, Jewish, Christian children — all children, in every country,” she wrote. “Not one is excluded.”
The video has garnered nearly 200,000 likes as of Friday.
Representatives for Accurso and Save the Children did not immediately respond to requests for comment.
Accurso is among a handful of creators who have launched similar fundraising initiatives amid the conflict in Gaza, where Israel’s military assault has shut off several crossings crucial for the supply of food, fuel, and other aid to Palestinians.
Her efforts come amidst an ongoing debate about the power influencers have in assisting humanitarian crises. Various creators across platforms have amplified fundraising efforts for families seeking to escape Gaza, while some pro-Palestinian audiences have blocked influencers and celebrities who have remained silent on the issue.
