Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez’s brother has been forced to shut down viral rumors that he is embroiled in a fentanyl trafficking ring — warning, “Don’t make me sue.”
Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez, 32, took to TikTok to publicly deny the allegation after a woman blasted out the false claim online earlier this week.
The original clip, which wrongly identified him as Matthew, zeroed in on a fake news article that declared that the New York Democratic congresswoman’s brother had become embroiled in drug trafficking.
AOC with her brother, Gabriel, mother and abuela in an undated photo posted to Instagram.
Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez appears in a TikTok denying the allegations. @gabrielocasiocortez/TikTok“I’m the brother. My name’s not Matthew. I have no idea why they’re posting this,” he said after the video started spreading on social media.
“I work with the homeless. I have nothing to do with this story, which isn’t real. Please find something better to do with your time.”
AOC’s brother later threatened to take legal action against those perpetuating the lies, warning that such claims have real-life consequences.
A TikTokker by the name Mamawendi4 created a video sharing the false allegations to her followers. @gabrielocasiocortez/TikTok
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez speaks outside New York City Hall on June 5, 2021. Kevin C. Downs“That’s all it takes to start to get somebody that’s a little bit radicalized, somebody that’s willing to pick up their guns and go do something,” he said.
“And it wouldn’t be the first time somebody’s tried. That’s the society that we’re in, so things like this are just more serious than ever — and you can’t slander people.”
