The comment was posted under a now-deleted Instagram message from Accurso that said, “Free Palestine, Free Sudan, Free Congo, Free Iran.” After the screenshots circulated, Jewish advocacy groups and some followers condemned the apparent interaction.
Accurso, who has more than 18 million subscribers on YouTube, said the incident was a mistake. In an Instagram post, she shared a screenshot of a follower alerting her to the issue and explained that she had been trying to delete the comment but accidentally hit the “like” button instead.
“Deleted – how horrible,” Accurso wrote in a reply. In her caption, she added, “People are allowed to make mistakes. I am super sorry for any confusion it caused. I delete antisemitism ANY time I see it. I am against all forms of hate including antisemitism against the Jewish people.”
She also posted a video apology, appearing emotional as she addressed the backlash. “I thought I deleted a comment and I accidentally hit ‘like,’” she said. “I’m a human who makes mistakes… Everyone who knows me knows I would never like that.”
In a statement to Variety, Accurso reiterated her position. “I accidentally liked a hateful comment on my social media while trying to delete it,” she said. “I do not support language that targets or harms the Jewish community or any community. Antisemitism and hate of any kind have no place in my life or my work.”
Accurso is known not only for her children’s education content but also for her activism. She has raised more than $1 million for organizations supporting children in conflict zones such as Gaza, Ukraine, and Sudan. She has been outspoken about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza and has been a strong critic of Israel. Her activism has drawn both praise and criticism online.
On Thursday, HonestReporting published a report accusing Accurso of engaging with antisemitic content more than once. The group argued that repeated interactions could not be dismissed as accidental and claimed her online behavior fits a broader pattern of antisemitic misinformation.
The report also included a screenshot that appears to show Accurso responding “ooooooooooohhhhh” to a comment from an account that allegedly praises Hamas and harasses Jews. That claim has further fueled criticism.
Despite the controversy, several public figures publicly defended Accurso. Actress Ilana Glazer wrote that “a literal BILLION people around the world KNOW your clear, loving, human rights-centered heart.” Singer Lance Bass added, “ZERO people think this was intentional. The ones pretending have their own agenda obviously.”
The incident has renewed debate over social media mistakes, online activism, and how public figures are judged for their digital interactions.
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