AOC accused of putting on new accent during Memphis rally: 'Going full Kamala'

Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., was accused of putting on an accent during a Memphis rally last week, with critics on social media comparing her to former Vice President Kamala Harris.

Ocasio-Cortez was speaking at a campaign rally in Memphis on Friday for progressive U.S. House candidate Justin Pearson, who currently serves as a Tennessee state representative.

"We cannot afford to leave Tennessee behind," she said. "We cannot afford to leave Kentucky behind, Alabama behind, Mississippi behind, Georgia behind, South Carolina behind. There is no country where we are split apart."

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Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., speaks during a campaign rally for Democratic congressional candidate State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, Friday, July 17, 2026, in Memphis. (George Walker IV/AP Photo)

"About a month or two ago, we were in Montgomery, Alabama — Sister [Rep. Ayanna] Pressley and I were in Montgomery, Alabama, and one of the things that we said was that it is time for the North to roll up to the South," Ocasio-Cortez continued.

Critics online singled out this part of her speech, saying she put on a "fake accent."

"AOC, from the ‘Bronx’ sounding like a southern Baptist preacher while in Memphis," actor Michael Rapaport, who has said he’ll run for the New York City mayor’s office in 2029, posted on social media.

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"Hillary Clinton developed an accent. Kamala Harris developed an accent. AOC is developing an accent. It’s all patronizing," conservative communications strategist Steve Guest posted on social media.

"Rep. AOC just got busted putting on a FAKE ACCENT for a predominantly black audience. She's seriously going full Kamala for 2028," another user wrote, referencing a potential presidential bid.

Democratic congressional candidate State Rep. Justin J. Pearson, D-Memphis, second from right, is joined on stage by Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., left, Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., second from left, and Rep. Summer Lee, D-Pa., right, during a campaign rally, Friday, July 17, 2026, in Memphis, Tenn. (George Walker IV/AP Photo)

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Harris was repeatedly accused of altering her accent depending on the group of people she's speaking to.

Vice President Kamala Harris spoke at the American Federation of Teachers’ 88th National Convention on July 25, 2024, in Houston, Texas. (Montinique Monroe/Getty Images)

In 2024, Harris was slammed for using what critics called a fake Southern accent while speaking at a rally in Atlanta in July 2024, and again during a Labor Day rally in Detroit that year. During her 2021 overseas trip to France, critics claimed Harris used a "French accent" while touring a COVID lab.

Fox News Digital reached out to AOC's team for comment on the "fake accent" accusations.