Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a prominent member of the Democratic 'Squad,' sparked controversy with her speech at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago.
Critics have accused her of adopting a peculiar accent during her seven-minute address, which was otherwise met with enthusiastic applause.
According to the Daily Mail, the New York representative, who has previously faced allegations of affecting her voice in public, seemed to alter her accent when she drew a comparison between President Donald Trump and Kamala Harris. Ocasio-Cortez stated, "I, for one, am tired of hearing about how a two-bit union buster thinks of himself as more of a patriot than the woman who fights every single day to lift working people from under the boots of greed, trampling on our way of life." The phrase 'on our way of life' was delivered with a noticeably different accent and cadence, leading to speculation among conservatives about the authenticity of her speech.
One observer questioned, "What accent is AOC using here?" while another criticized her for claiming that Donald Trump only fights for "the wealthy & big business," arguing that the Democratic Party is the true party of wealthy elites and mega-corporations. Another critic found her speech and accent to be cringe-worthy, stating, "AOC speech was cringe. The fake accent was way too much for me. Back snapped. I called it. DNC is cringe as all get out."
This is not the first time Ocasio-Cortez, who represents parts of the Bronx and Queens in Congress, has been accused of altering her accent. In 2023, she faced backlash for using a Southern drawl while addressing Al Sharpton's civil rights organization, stating, "I'm proud to be a bartender. Ain't nothing wrong with that." Critics accused her of pandering to the crowd at the National Action Network conference in 2019.
A viral video branding AOC "a total fraud" juxtaposes this clip with more recent footage of her criticizing Donald Trump without any noticeable accent. The accusations of accent manipulation date back to her early years in Congress, prompting her to defend herself on Twitter. "Folks talking about my voice can step right off," she wrote. "Any kid who grew up in a distinct linguistic culture & had to learn to navigate class enviros at school/work knows what's up. My Spanish is the same way."
Ocasio-Cortez, who spent her early years in the Bronx before moving to Westchester County, also expressed her frustration at her life being weaponized against her. "As much as the right wants to distort & deflect, I am from the Bronx. I act & talk like it, *especially* when I'm fired up and especially when I'm home. It is so hurtful to see how every aspect of my life is weaponized against me, yet somehow asserted as false at the same time," she continued.
Despite the controversy surrounding her accent, Ocasio-Cortez's speech was met with fervor by the partisan crowd. She proudly declared her willingness to return to bartending, describing Trump as a "two-bit union buster" who would sell the country out for "a dollar." She stated, "Donald Trump would sell this country for $1 if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends."
The crowd chanted 'AOC' throughout her primetime address, which was a departure from her usual progressive style. Instead, she embraced the Democratic Party's platform and its leaders, a move that caught the attention of critics on social media. Ocasio-Cortez was given a primetime, first-night speaking slot at this convention, a significant upgrade from her 90-second virtual speech in 2020.
Despite the controversy surrounding her accent, Ocasio-Cortez's speech was a significant moment in the convention, which was held to formally nominate Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz to lead the Democratic ticket. However, the questions surrounding her authenticity and the authenticity of her accent remain, casting a shadow over her otherwise well-received speech.
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