Children's entertainer Rachel Griffin Accurso, known widely as Ms. Rachel, has publicly supported kindergarteners who wore hijabs to their graduation, following a post by former President Donald Trump that amplified a video of the event.
Accurso, who commands a significant following across platforms like YouTube, TikTok, and Instagram, shared her views on Instagram. She stated that wearing items meaningful to one's culture and religion, such as hijabs, kippahs, or crosses, is something she finds positive. "I think hijabs are beautiful," Accurso wrote. "Different kids wear different things that are a part of their cultures and religions."
Her message also appeared to address the sentiment behind such posts without naming Trump directly, asserting, "No one’s hurtful words can take away our worth and our value! Just because someone says something does not mean it’s true!"
The controversy began when Trump reshared a video clip on Truth Social. The video, initially shared by the X account End Wokeness, purportedly showed a kindergarten graduation in St. Paul, Minnesota, where "every girl is in a hijab," according to the account's caption. Trump did not add his own commentary to the reposted clip.
Accurso recounted her own experiences attending various religious celebrations, including Hanukkah, Eid, Easter, and Christmas, in the past year. She encouraged children facing hurtful remarks about their attire to speak with a trusted adult. "I hope you know that there is more kindness than fear, that love is stronger than hate, and that so many people stood with you," she added.
This is not the first time Accurso has engaged with politically charged topics. Earlier this year, she visited an immigration detention facility, describing the children she met as "traumatized." She has also faced scrutiny for her advocacy regarding children in Gaza.
In January, Accurso addressed an incident where she inadvertently