By John Q. Hosedrinker 
Chris Cuomo was fooled by a deepfake video impersonating Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, which he shared on X before being called out. The fabricated video showed the congresswoman criticizing a Sydney Sweeney jeans ad, prompting Cuomo to lament the state of the Democratic Party. After Ocasio-Cortez corrected him, Cuomo acknowledged his mistake but doubled down by attempting to shift the conversation towards Hamas and addressing the bombing of a car in St. Louis. This incident occurred amid right-wing figures focusing on the ad, which has become a distraction, with Fox News mentioning Sweeney’s name significantly more than Jeffrey Epstein’s in the past week.
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AOC Roasts Chris Cuomo for Believing Obvious ‘Deepfake’ of Her Trashing Sydney Sweeney? Okay, so let’s unpack this whole saga, shall we? Chris Cuomo, once a prominent figure in journalism, now finds himself the butt of jokes, and at the center of it all is a ridiculously obvious deepfake video. The target? None other than AOC, supposedly spewing vitriol about Sydney Sweeney. And who fell for it? None other than Chris Cuomo himself.
What’s truly baffling is how anyone, let alone a seasoned media personality like Cuomo, could take this seriously. The video itself was practically screaming “parody.” It was watermarked by an AI company, explicitly stating it was a joke, and the lip-sync was hilariously off. Plus, the language used was so far out of character for AOC – “bouncy funbags” on the floor of Congress? Come on, people! This wasn’t exactly the pinnacle of investigative journalism on Cuomo’s part. You’d think someone with his experience would have a keen eye for spotting digital fakery, especially when it’s slapped with a giant “AI generated” sticker.
The sheer obliviousness of the whole situation is almost impressive. It raises serious questions about Cuomo’s judgment and his ability to discern fact from fiction in the digital age. Was it a genuine mistake? Or was he deliberately amplifying the fake video for some kind of attention-grabbing play? Either way, it’s a massive blunder that has rightfully earned him a mountain of criticism. It’s not just about the technical aspects of the deepfake; it’s about the apparent willingness to believe a narrative that conveniently aligns with certain political biases.
It’s almost as if there is a pattern. The right-wing media ecosystem thrives on outrage and misinformation. The fact that people are shocked that this video made the rounds on social media is what’s shocking. They are not showing content, they are showing people’s reaction to the content. Cuomo played right into their hands. He didn’t apologize to AOC. This whole incident is a pretty clear example of how easy it is to manipulate people with fake content, especially when it plays into pre-existing narratives. This whole situation really highlights the dangers of the current media landscape.
Then there are the underlying themes at play here. Why this particular deepfake? The choice of targets is no accident. AOC, a prominent progressive voice, and Sydney Sweeney, an actress who seemingly has caught the attention of right-wing media. The intersection of misogyny and racism is a common theme in right-wing circles, and this video hit all the right (wrong) notes. It’s a recipe for viral spread. It’s all about whipping up outrage and stoking divisions.
One could argue that this situation exposes a larger issue: the erosion of trust in media and the rise of a post-truth environment. With deepfakes becoming more sophisticated and readily available, the ability to verify information is critical. Cuomo’s blunder serves as a stark reminder of the need for critical thinking, media literacy, and a healthy dose of skepticism when consuming information online. We need to be smarter, more vigilant, and less willing to accept narratives that are too good (or too bad) to be true.
And let’s not forget the role of political affiliations. The reactions to Cuomo’s mistake have, predictably, fallen along partisan lines. Some people have been quick to defend him, while others have used the opportunity to criticize his past actions and question his credibility. The incident has also reignited debates about the state of the Democratic party. The “Establishment Dems” are apparently handing democracy to the fascists. And as the conversation shifts from “deepfake” to the political implications, the conversation may begin to feel like it is moving in circles.
In the end, Cuomo’s misstep is a cautionary tale. It’s a reminder that even those who are supposed to be the gatekeepers of information are vulnerable to manipulation and that the consequences of falling for disinformation can be significant. It shows us that everyone can make mistakes, but the mark of a true professional is the willingness to acknowledge those mistakes, learn from them, and move forward with greater awareness. Until that happens, Chris Cuomo may be best known for, as the input suggests, being a disgraced former journalist.