AOC mocked for ‘phony’ accent during spirited DNC speech

Article content
New York Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez was one of the many speakers at the Democratic National Convention on Monday night.
And while her speech resulted in an escalation of cheers, she earned jeers online — not about her words but how she said them.
The congresswoman was called out for debuting a new accent, which only seemed to get more bizarre the louder the room got.
AOC’s speech was seven-and-a-half minutes but clips of one very specific, very fiery portion in which she targeted former President Donald Trump was widely shared online.
“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,” AOC roared, as the camera pans to Jesse Jackson in the audience, looking on in either awe or confusion.
It was the phrase “on our way of life” that made people do a double take, where she either stumbled on her words — or adopted a different accent and extended the word “life” into two syllables.
“What accent is AOC using here?” one person asked on X.
Another added: “Preacher AOC debuting her accent.”
A third user wrote, “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.”
That said, AOC was a hit with Democrats, whose speech was, at times, drowned out by the applause and shouts of support.
“Chicago, we have to help her win,” AOC instructed the crowd. “Because we know that Donald Trump would sell this country for a dollar if it meant lining his own pockets and greasing the palms of his Wall Street friends.”
RECOMMENDED VIDEO
The congresswoman, who hails from the Bronx and represents parts of it and Queens, has been accused of putting on fake accents in the past.
In 2019, she was slammed after video surfaced of her speaking with what sounded like a Southern accent while addressing Al Sharpton’s National Action Network conference.
AOC blasted critics at the time, writing on then-Twitter, “Folks talking about my voice can step right off.”
She added: “Any kid who grew up in a distinct linguistic culture and had to learn to navigate class enviros at school/work knows what’s up. My Spanish is the same way.”
Postmedia is committed to maintaining a lively but civil forum for discussion. Please keep comments relevant and respectful. Comments may take up to an hour to appear on the site. You will receive an email if there is a reply to your comment, an update to a thread you follow or if a user you follow comments. Visit our Community Guidelines for more information.