It seems the mocking of Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez by the recently popular AOCPress parody account was just too much for NBC News. The humorless scolds from the media outlet ran a story tearing down the parody account.
Why would a news organization feel the need to attack a parody account on Twitter?
It’s quite simple: They’re all on the same team.
A Twitter account mocking Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has skyrocketed in followers and engagement over the last two days, with some help from Elon Musk. https://t.co/nClmkR8jf5
— NBC News (@NBCNews) May 31, 2023
The piece is dripping with bias designed to manipulate the reader into having a negative reaction to the parody account.
We interrupt our regularly scheduled programming to bring you this news bulletin: Someone has mocked a Democrathttps://t.co/BZAlytcaFE pic.twitter.com/IAFC6VMt2s
— jimtreacher.substack.com (@jtLOL) June 1, 2023
They point out that it’s a ‘verified’ account. Who cares? So many accounts are verified now that nobody pays attention to the moniker as any indication of authenticity, but the ‘journalists’ want to tie into prior fears that paid verification would create a crisis of authenticity.
They authors, Kat Tenbarge and Ben Goggin, also use the word ‘impersonating’ throughout the article because they know impersonating a real user is against Twitter’s rules, unless the account is clearly marked as a parody account. The AOCPress account is marked as a parody account and complies with Twitter’s rules.
Finally, they try to accuse Elon Musk for causing the account’s recent success. There’s one huge problem with that:
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Actually, it was AOC herself complaining about it that made it go viral. The fact that it was actually funny helped a lot.
— John Hawkins (@johnhawkinsrwn) June 1, 2023
As Twitchy readers know, AOC tweeted about the account herself, earning widespread mockery for a tweet that has now been viewed over 35 million times.
She revealed that she and her team would be assessing how to deal with the situation. We suggest she stop tweeting like a parody account.
FYI there’s a fake account on here impersonating me and going viral. The Twitter CEO has engaged it, boosting visibility.
It is releasing false policy statements and gaining spread.
I am assessing with my team how to move forward. In the meantime, be careful of what you see.
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) May 30, 2023
It’s hard to blame that on Elon Musk.
The Streisand Effect is now in full force. https://t.co/1CMYO5owxe
— Kevin – Classical Liberal 🇺🇸 (@gov_fails) June 1, 2023
https://t.co/adivXsNNsJ pic.twitter.com/IEwbplJfIP
— Jon Awesome-Best Life (@RealStarMan) June 1, 2023
Thank you for helping out, NBC News.
Check out this quote from the article:
The account is fooling some of the people who read its tweets — bringing to life some of the fears about Musk’s paid verification system that stripped legacy verified users of their blue check marks. In the replies, there is a mix of responses from people taking the tweets at face value and attributing them to the real Ocasio-Cortez, while others point out that it’s a parody account.
The account’s most viral tweet plays into a sexist trope that Musk and other conservatives have embraced since his Twitter takeover — that Ocasio-Cortez is secretly attracted to him.
There it is – Elon Musk and his evil blue check marks are causing this.
That last sentence is a real doozy! A ‘sexist trope’ that AOC is secretly attracted to Musk.
We can assure you, she doesn’t want to date him.
If Republicans are mad they can’t date me they can just say that instead of projecting their sexual frustrations onto my boyfriend’s feet.
Ya creepy weirdos https://t.co/Z7bZCgXpWJ
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) December 31, 2021
Talk about sexist tropes. LOL!
That tweet is the perfect example of why the AOCPress account is fooling people.
TBH I couldn’t tell the difference
— Cheefy (@CM_Rondo) June 1, 2023
AOC tweets some crazy stuff and the parody account has captured her tone and voice perfectly. This editor has to admit to being fooled once … for a few minutes at least.
All of this raises the question: Is this funny?
— Governor Dill (@TheGreenOldDill) June 1, 2023
Oh, but it is. It’s hilarious, in fact.
It’s hilarious.
— Robert Floyd (@robertfloyd23) June 1, 2023
Bingo.
It’s a parody account – cry more.
— Catturd ™ (@catturd2) May 30, 2023
The Supreme Leader of the Squad shall not be mocked!
It’s Jan 6th all over again.
— 🫃🏼💉🇺🇦Hollaria Briden, Esq. & Ally (@HollyBriden) May 31, 2023
Where were you on the day AOC was mocked on Twitter?
Mockery of elected officials is perhaps America’s oldest and most cherished tradition.
— WeWerePromisedZombies! (@JeromehartlF) June 1, 2023
The journalists at NBC News should be the first people to recognize and embrace this freedom.
Instead, they circle the wagons for their Democrat allies.
— TeamThead™ (@TeamThead) June 1, 2023
LOLOLOL! Now that’s just perfect.
You had to know there would be an AOC staged photo op meme.
AOC is the best thing to ever happen to @AOCpress
— UnBaffle.me (@unbaffle_me) May 31, 2023
Ha! That’s good.
Nothing alarms our political press like the prospect of people in power facing criticism. https://t.co/Y7Hfkmejfc
— Dan McLaughlin (@baseballcrank) June 1, 2023
At least when the powerful people being criticized are Democrats.
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