Pro-Israel group criticized for including Ms. Rachel in 'antisemite of the year' list while omitting far-right figures

A U.S.-based pro-Israel nonprofit, StopAntisemitism, which highlights individuals criticizing Israel on social media, faced backlash for including children's YouTube educator Ms. Rachel in its annual Antisemite of the Year nominations while excluding far-right figures like White Supremacist Nick Fuentes. On Sunday, the group encouraged followers to vote for their top three candidates.

The list sparked controversy, with critics arguing Ms. Rachels advocacy for children in Gaza is not antisemitic. Democratic Representative Ro Khanna wrote on X, Ms. Rachel is a preschool teacher who speaks up for starving children in Gaza. That is not antisemitism. I hope thousands will join me in standing up for her.

Other nominees included conservative commentator Tucker Carlson, far-right conspiracy theorist Stew Peters, UFC fighter and Holocaust denier Bryce Mitchell, and pro-Palestinian TikToker Guy Christensen. Public figures Marcia Cross, Cynthia Nixon, and activist Calla Walsh were also listed, all of whom have criticized Israels actions in Gaza. Additionally, hosts of The Young Turks, Ana Kasparian and Cenk Uygur, were nominated for their political commentary.

Social media users reacted strongly against including Ms. Rachel. One user stated, Lumping in Ms. Rachel with Stew Peters is so disgusting and does more to help anti-semitism by obfuscating the difference between Israel criticisms and actual Jewish hate. Another wrote, StopAntisemites nominated Ms. Rachel for raising funds for starving Gazan toddlers, which reflects poorly on them. Criticism also targeted the omission of Fuentes, who expressed confusion over his exclusion on social media.

StopAntisemitism explained that Fuentes had been a finalist in previous years and is not re-nominated, allowing the organization to focus on others spreading hate. The group, founded in 2018, has more than 300,000 followers on X and tracks individuals it identifies as antisemites, especially since the 2023 Israel-Hamas conflict.

StopAntisemitism described Carlson as someone who turns extremist dog whistles into broadcast-ready talking points, legitimizing voices promoting Holocaust revisionism and hate. Posts on X also explained nominations for Marcia Cross and Cynthia Nixon, noting their online criticism of Israel.

Ms. Rachel, born Rachel Accurso, is a former Maine educator who has gained nearly 15 million YouTube subscribers with her educational content for children. She has also become a vocal advocate for children suffering in Gaza, sharing that she felt compelled to act after seeing images of malnourished and injured children. At Glamours Women of the Year 2025 Awards, she wore a custom dress embroidered with drawings from children in Gaza.

Previous winners of the award include far-right pundit Candace Owens, Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, rapper Kanye West, and a Ben & Jerrys executive. StopAntisemitism stated that the annual top 10 nominees are based on engagement with their Antisemite of the Week features throughout the year and emphasized that celebrities often attract the most attention due to their cultural influence.

Author: Sophia Brooks