Children’s YouTuber Ms. Rachel said Tuesday Black people “don’t hang themselves from trees,” days after Raleigh police concluded that a 32-year-old Black man found hanging from a tree in downtown Raleigh, North Carolina, died by suicide.
She posted a short video on social media telling her followers, “Please listen to the Black community. Black people don’t hang themselves from trees. There’s been at least seven Black people found hanging from trees.”
Ms. Rachel, whose real name is Rachel Accurso, has increasingly used her children’s entertainment platform to advocate for progressive causes.
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Accurso didn’t mention a specific incident, but the video was posted after the tragedy in downtown Raleigh.
Raleigh Police Chief Rico Boyce explained during a news conference Monday that a young man with a history of mental health issues was captured on video walking toward a tree carrying an electrical cord, and nobody else was in the area.
“Based upon the evidence collected and reviewed to date, investigators have found no evidence indicating that another person caused or contributed to the young man’s death, and no evidence of a criminal act has been identified. Our investigation confirms that this is a suicide,” Boyce said.
Boyce also said the young man’s mother said he “struggled with mental health issues in his past,” and many social media posts about the incident are inaccurate.
If you or someone you know is having thoughts of suicide, please contact the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline at 988.
Ms. Rachel did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Fox News Digital.
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While the United States has a dark history of lynching Black people in the 19th and 20th centuries, there is no evidence that foul play is suspected in the Raleigh case. Several similar incidents have been ruled suicide in 2026, although questions often linger.
The Mississippi State Medical Examiner’s Office has not yet ruled on the recent death of 29-year-old Tasia Fortune.
Ms. Rachel captioned her video by writing, “Just in 2026. Also, what the press did to Dr. Jason Arday. My heart is with the Black community. Please be an ally. You don’t have to be perfect. But you need to listen, uplift, speak out and show up.”
Jason Arday, who was found dead last week, is the ex-Cambridge professor who sparked an international controversy over plagiarism allegations. His sudden death came as he faced significant backlash amid an investigation into his academic qualifications and honorary appointments over plagiarism accusations.
The London Metropolitan Police have said Arday’s death is not believed to be suspicious.
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Accurso is no stranger to polarizing posts on social media. Last month, she endorsed a dozen Democratic candidates, including former Rep. Cori Bush, D-Mo., and Michigan U.S. Senate candidate Abdul El-Sayed ahead of major primary elections.
Days before that, the children’s entertainer suggested that race was a factor in the investigation into Mississippi teenager Nolan Wells’ mysterious death.
Accurso has also come under scrutiny over the last few years for her outspoken criticism of Israel and support for Gaza during the Israel-Hamas war.
In January, she faced backlash after appearing to like an antisemitic comment under one of her Instagram posts that said, “Free America from the Jews.”
She later posted a tearful apology video, insisting it was an accident.
Fox News Digital’s Lindsay Kornick and Joseph A. Wulfsohn contributed to this report.
