On Monday night, Twitter suspended the parody account “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Press Release (parody)” in the latest crackdown on conservative accounts. Like a hydra, however, accounts parodying Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) have leapt into existence, with at least five emerging from the beheaded husk of the AOCPress account.
https://twitter.com/RaheemKassam/status/1125569298947366914
When PJ Media reached out to Twitter, the company said AOCPress and other accounts were suspended for violating Twitter Rules. The specific rule in question states, “While you may use Twitter pseudonymously or as a parody, commentary, or fan account, you may not use misleading account information in order to engage in spammy, abusive, or disruptive behavior, including attempts to manipulate the conversations on Twitter.”
According to a person familiar with the suspension, AOCPress was one of a set of accounts that the company suspected of coordinating against other Twitter users. That person said this kind of conduct violates the company’s policies on spammy behavior.
A Twitter spokesperson would not address the five new parody accounts.
The account AOC Press (PARODY) sent off its first tweet in the wee hours of the morning on Tuesday. The account joined Twitter in May 2019, likely shortly after the first AOC press parody was suspended. As of 3 p.m., this account had garnered 483 followers.
Its first tweet? “I’m the boss, Twitter!”
I’m the boss @Twitter!
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez parody (@aoc_parody) May 7, 2019
AOC Official Parody also leapt into existence in May 2019, firing off its first tweet around 9 a.m. Tuesday. The account had racked up 36 followers by 3 p.m.
“It may not be much, but I keep my Twitter on dark mode, even though i hate it. Why? Because it uses less electricity, and that’s how you [save the planet],” the parody account tweeted.
https://twitter.com/AOC_Parodychan/status/1125754678296268800
Rep. AOC (parody) also began in May 2019, firing off its first tweet around 10 a.m. Tuesday. By 3 p.m., it had garnered 20 followers.
“I don’t know what a garbage disposal is. Does anyone know if it is environmentally friendly?” this account tweeted.
I don't know what a garbage disposal is. Does anyone know if it is environmentally friendly?
— Rep. AOC (parody) (@aoc_rep) May 7, 2019
The account was mocking Ocasio-Cortez’s recent comments upon discovering a garbage disposal.
“I am told this is a garbage disposal. I’ve never seen a garbage disposal. I never had one in any place I’ve ever lived. It is terrifying,” the congresswoman said in a live video. “I don’t know what it’s for, or what its purpose is. Like, food scraps? Like, is this environmentally sound?” (No, this is NOT a parody.)
Apparently AOC doesn’t know what a garbage disposal is or what it’s used for according to her latest Instagram story. pic.twitter.com/H2i2dFWpkD
— Courtney Holland 🇺🇸 (@hollandcourtney) May 7, 2019
AOC*Parody* also started in May 2019 and sent out its first tweet at around 10 a.m. The account, which describes itself as “she blinded me with science,” had gained 33 followers as of 3 p.m.
Official AOC From The Block — (PARODY) also joined Twitter in May 2019. Its first tweet came in the wee hours of Tuesday morning. As of 3 p.m., it had 65 followers. The account describes itself as “Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez Parody Account – support office of Mike. Lover of Gingers – Cow Fart Sniffer – BRONX FOR LIFE.”
In its first tweet, the account mocked Ocasio-Cortez’s support for Palestine. “Like, Israel is, like, so ungrateful. Palestine send them 600 new rockets and they don’t even say thank you!” the account tweeted.
https://twitter.com/AocFrom/status/1125644406659248128
Like the original AOCPress account, none of these accounts could be mistaken for Ocasio-Cortez herself. These accounts retweet conservatives and mock the congresswoman.
Interestingly, liberals have displayed a blatant double standard in how they respond to the Ocasio-Cortez parody accounts. Liberal activist Molly Jong-Fast, a board member of Arena Summit and a “verified” Twitter user, attacked the AOCPress parody account as “incredibly mean,” but mocked Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) for suing the woman behind parody accounts attacking him.
The juxtaposition of these two tweets is just 👨🍳😙👌 pic.twitter.com/O8h0kFj5Ur
— neontaster (@neontaster) May 7, 2019
None of these five new parody accounts has anywhere near the 85,000 followers AOCPress once had, but their rapid emergence onto Twitter suggests that the social media platform will not be able to keep conservatives silent for long.
Hey @TwitterSupport, how did @AOCPress violate your rules when it freely acknowledged it was a parody account? Since you suspended that account, at least five more have taken its place: @AOC_parody, @AOC_Parodychan, @Aoc_rep, @RandyStaley5, & @AocFrom. Will they also be banned? pic.twitter.com/Pg2SosyJ0D
— Tyler O'Neil (@Tyler2ONeil) May 7, 2019
Follow Tyler O’Neil, the author of this article, on Twitter at @Tyler2ONeil.
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