Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez, brother of Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, finds himself debunking fictitious claims linking him to fentanyl trafficking.
At a Glance
- Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez addresses false fentanyl trafficking claims on TikTok.
- A video mistakenly identified him as someone named “Matthew” involved in drug-related crimes.
- Gabriel emphasizes his work with the homeless and calls the allegations fictitious.
- The fake story originated from a satirical website and spread widely online.
Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez Refutes False Claims
Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez took to TikTok to address rumors erroneously connecting him to a fentanyl trafficking scheme. The misleading reports alleged his involvement as an individual named ‘Matthew,’ supposedly caught with $1.2 million worth of fentanyl on Lake Superior.
In his response video, Gabriel factually presented his real identity, stating, “I’m the brother. My name’s not Matthew. I have no idea why they’re posting this.” He stressed his commitment to aiding the homeless and deemed the allegations as baseless, asserting, “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.”
Sources Behind the Misinformation
The rumor originated from the Dunning-Kruger Times, a known satire outlet. Despite being parody content, the story’s spread gained traction on platforms like TikTok, Facebook, Instagram Threads, and Twitter. The satirical article exaggerated further with references to oat milk and Patagonia vests found alongside the drugs, amplifying its absurdity.
Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez expressed concern over the dangers posed by misinformation. In a follow-up video, he cautioned against the viral nature of falsehoods, pointing out, “The thing that I want people to really understand where I’m coming from is that, even if, let’s just say, one million people play into that – let’s just say that even one percent of them actually believe it – that’s 10,000 people.”
Legal Warnings and Future Implications
Pushed to counteract these misrepresentations, Gabriel hinted at potential legal action against those perpetuating the incorrect narrative. His direct encouragement was, “Don’t make me sue.” This decisive stance underscores the impact and persistence required to combat the adverse effects of misinformation on individuals and society.
“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 – and it wouldn’t be the first time somebody has tried,” Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez remarked, alluding to past incidents where misinformation led to violence.
