A widely circulated clip on social media features the pair against a backdrop of an Israel-Palestine map.
DETROIT, MICHIGAN: Following the success of Michigan Democratic primary candidate Dr Abdul El-Sayed, a suspicious video began making the rounds online. The footage purported to show El-Sayed alongside popular YouTuber Ms Rachel instructing children about Israeli colonizers. The post quickly triggered accusations of antisemitism against the Democrat, prompting a closer look at its authenticity.
Claim: Ms Rachel and Abdul El-Sayed appeared in a joint video
In the viral recording, a map labeled ‘COLONIZER’ across the top representing Israel and Palestine serves as the background.
Viewers see Ms Rachel teaching a lesson: “A colonizer takes a home that isn’t theirs. Can you say, colonizer?” Subsequent frames show children echoing her words.
Later in the sequence, El-Sayed appears to single out a child and label them a “Zionist.” The video proceeds with the two figures discussing Palestinian resistance before concluding with a campaign pitch from El-Sayed.
Accumulating hundreds of thousands of views, the footage drew harsh criticism from social media users. Many assumed it was genuine, particularly given Ms Rachel’s known vocal stances regarding the conflict in Gaza.
Fact Check: The footage is artificially generated
Despite online reactions, the video is entirely fake and was produced using Artificial Intelligence. Running for 47 seconds, the clip exhibits characteristic signs of AI manipulation, such as exaggerated facial expressions, artificial-sounding songs, and stylized interactions with children.
Furthermore, the X account that originally published the post explicitly states in its bio: “Building the future of AI media. Mostly satire, always entertaining.”
Evaluations via AI detection platforms like Hive Moderation confirmed a 100% probability that the content was computer-generated. Additionally, the social media platform itself attached a label reading ‘Made using AI’ directly to the post.
Context: Ms Rachel’s financial contribution to Abdul El-Sayed
The fabricated video surfaced shortly after public records revealed that Ms Rachel contributed $3,000 to El-Sayed’s campaign prior to the primary race, an election cycle heavily polarized by the issue of Israel.
National Republican Senatorial Committee spokeswoman Samantha Cantrell sharply criticized the donation and issued a warning to parents regarding both public figures.
“Abdul El-Sayed and Ms. Rachel are the same, forcing their socialist, they/them, anti-America agenda on our children,” Cantrell stated to The New York Post. “Parents should be worried when they head to the ballot box.”
According to reports, Federal Election Commission filings published on July 19 formally listed Ms Rachel—whose legal name is Rachel Griffin Accurso—as a donor.