**Elon Musk Falsely Blamed for AOC Parody Account’s Popularity**
NBC News reports that Tesla CEO Elon Musk is responsible for the rise of a parody Twitter account that pokes fun at Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. The Democratic congresswoman was not amused, and the news outlet claims that Musk’s involvement has led to an increase in the account’s followers and engagement.
In reality, however, it seems it is Ocasio-Cortez’s own public complaints about the account that have given it a stronger following, rather than Musk’s engagement.
The @AOCPress account initially had 85,000 followers in May 2019 but was suspended for impersonation. After its restoration in May 2023, it lost over 16,000 followers. Musk replied to a tweet from the account on May 29, causing its followers to rise to over 80,000. However, it gained over 100,000 followers on May 30 – the day Ocasio-Cortez responded to the account – which eventually reached more than 375,000.
As a result, the New York Democrat has turned a relatively unknown parody account into an influential voice on social media and created unnecessary controversy. NBC News has only magnified the issue by sharing it with millions of people.
**Ocasio-Cortez’s Own Actions Boost Mockery Account’s Popularity**
