What to Know
By now, most people expect Ms Rachel, whose full name is Rachel Griffin Accurso, to speak up on issues that involve children. But when she posted on Threads and Instagram about Nolan Wells, the Black teenager who mysteriously died on a boating trip with friends in Mississippi, there was still some apparent surprise at what she had to say.
The educator, YouTube star, and surrogate parent for millions of children posted about how she believes race played a role in how the investigation into what happened to Wells began and how the investigation has progressed. Ms Rachel’s supporters commented on her posts to share their agreement, but there were others who weren’t sure what to make of Ms Rachel, a white woman, inserting herself in the story at all. Though to be fair, Ms Rachel haters do find any reason to stay big mad at her.
Ms Rachel’s statement about Nolan Wells is pretty simple.
Ms Rachel posted in her Instagram Stories, in an Instagram post, and on Threads with the same message about Wells. Although she doesn’t have any close connection to the teen or his family, she did, it seems, feel the need to weigh in on what happened and how she feels as a mother and as an educator.
“We know the investigation and everything that followed would have been different if Nolan Wells were white and his friends were black,” Ms Rachel wrote. “Nolan and his family deserve justice.”
While no one can really disagree that Wells’s family deserves to know what happened and who may be responsible for his death, some users on social media shamed Ms Rachel for talking about the case at all. Others stood behind her to agree that, with her platform, it’s necessary to speak out, even if Ms Rachel doesn’t have information to offer about the case.
She clapped back at people who want her to stick to her children’s content.
In the comments on Threads, one user told Ms Rachel, “Thank you for using your voice to speak on injustice no matter how many people wish you would remain in ‘character’ and silent.”
To that, Ms Rachel replied, “Thanks so much!”
“We do know everything would have been different,” another user agreed. “Thank you Ms Rachel for speaking the truth each and every day.”
Another person wrote, “So glad to exist, not only as a person but as a mother, at the same time as Ms Rachel.”
But then there were the naysayers who told Ms Rachel to stay in her lane, save this kind of open speech for her personal account outside of her Ms Rachel accounts, and to, in other words, shut up. But Ms Rachel wasn’t here for that.
She made another post on Instagram with a photo of a quote that said, “Can you just stay in your lane and sing kids songs?”
Her response was “No.”
People called out Ms Rachel for “race baiting.”
The critics who didn’t appreciate Ms Rachel’s commentary about Wells’s case left scathing comments on social media, particularly on Threads. Multiple people accused her of “race baiting” with her comments. According to Merriam-Webster, race baiting is “The making of verbal attacks against members of a racial group.”
In this case, it sounds like people are accusing Ms Rachel of making her verbal attacks against white people.
“Lmao and what would’ve been different?” One of the haters wrote on Threads. “Was there a race application he had to fill out before authorities decided to go look for him? Get your facts straight Ms Rachel or keep it to kids entertainment. I’m convinced you’re starting to do things to get some engagement because no way an educated person like you is gonna make this about race.”
But we all know Ms Rachel stands ten toes down for equality, especially when it comes to children.
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