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Several critics blasted Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez for using what was deemed as a "fake accent" during her speech at the Democratic National Convention Monday (August 19) night.
Conservative commenter Steve Cortes, who had previously worked on former President Donald Trump's 2016 and 2020 presidential campaigns, claimed that Ocasio-Cortez, a native New Yorker, "developed a new phony accent in the middle of delivering" her speech, sharing a clip in which she specifically took aim at Trump.
“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,” an X user wrote.
“Preacher AOC debuting her new accent,” another X user claimed.
“I’m starting to think AOC yelling in her new southern accent was the highlight,” another X user wrote, calling the DNC a "snoozefest."
Ocasio-Cortez's speech was, however, a hit among her fellow Democrats, who chanted "AOC" as she walked on stage and continued to do so during portions of her speech. The congresswoman has previously faced criticism for perceived dialect changes, which included a 2019 speech in front of a majority-Black audience at Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network convention in which she was accused of using a fake southern accent.
"Folks talking about my voice can step right off. Women’s March & Kavanaugh speech, same," Ocasio-Cortez wrote on her X account at the time. "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. These conspiracy mills are (trash emoji)."