Chris Cuomo Duped by Deepfake of AOC: How a Fake Rant About Sydney Sweeney Sent the Internet into Chaos

CNN alumnus and NewsNation anchor Chris Cuomo found himself in the digital hot seat Wednesday after sharing — and appearing to believe — an AI-generated deepfake video of Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) making inflammatory comments about actress Sydney Sweeney’s new jeans ad. The clip, which went viral across right-wing corners of the internet before being debunked, falsely shows AOC on the House floor condemning Sweeney’s campaign as “blatant Nazi propaganda.”

While it’s not the first time a public figure has been fooled by artificial intelligence, Cuomo’s misstep has become a prime example of how even seasoned journalists can fall victim to increasingly sophisticated digital misinformation — and how quickly it can spiral.

The Deepfake That Fooled Millions

The video in question was a remarkably realistic clip showing Ocasio-Cortez delivering a fiery speech about beauty standards and white privilege, reportedly in response to Sydney Sweeney’s latest Levi’s campaign.

In the AI-generated clip, the fake AOC declares:

“Beauty is defined by the number of victim groups of which you are a member… Skinny, attractive, blonde-haired, blue-eyed, cisgender women descend from the slave-daddy oppressors of this nation.”

The manipulated footage ends with her supposedly labeling the ad “blatant Nazi propaganda” that has “no place in a diverse and liberated America.”

To the untrained eye — and even to many media veterans — the video appeared genuine. The background, tone, cadence, and even facial expressions were nearly indistinguishable from the real congresswoman’s past speeches.

Cuomo’s Critical Misstep

Chris Cuomo shared the video on his X (formerly Twitter) account with the caption:

“If this is real — and I pray it’s not — we’ve officially lost the plot. This rhetoric is poison.”

Within an hour, the clip had amassed tens of thousands of shares and quote-posts. But the backlash was immediate once media experts and digital forensics analysts weighed in to confirm what many suspected: the entire video was fake.

Cuomo quickly deleted the post and issued a follow-up message:

“Update: I’ve been informed this clip is AI-generated. If that’s true, I apologize for amplifying it. That’s on me. Always verify.”

However, the damage was done. By the time he walked it back, the video had been viewed over 7 million times, spreading widely among conspiracy theorists and political commentators who failed—or refused—to accept that it was fake.

AOC Fires Back — With Receipts

Never one to let misinformation go unchecked, Rep. Ocasio-Cortez responded directly to Cuomo’s blunder.

“This is why digital literacy matters,” she posted. “A sitting journalist spreading a fake AI video without checking the source. These deepfakes aren’t just bad jokes — they’re political weapons.”

She continued, with a shot at Cuomo’s credibility:

“Chris, I expect better. You have a platform. Use it responsibly. Or at the very least, don’t fall for satire dressed in propaganda.”

Her response was met with widespread applause on social media. Supporters praised her for standing up against what they view as a growing threat of AI-generated misinformation targeting women and progressive voices.

The Real Story Behind the Sydney Sweeney Ad

Adding a bizarre twist to the controversy, Sydney Sweeney had been the target of online criticism in recent weeks after modeling in a denim campaign that some claimed “glamorized Americana nostalgia” with an overly idealized portrayal of small-town, conservative-leaning aesthetics.

But nothing in the ad itself referenced white nationalism, racial superiority, or any of the ideologies falsely inserted into the fake AOC rant. The ad, shot in black-and-white, showed Sweeney wearing jeans and posing with an American flag, prompting critics on both ends of the spectrum to project their interpretations onto it.

Still, nothing about the ad warranted the fake condemnation supposedly delivered by Ocasio-Cortez — a fact that made the deepfake seem even more absurd in hindsight.

The Growing Threat of Deepfakes in Politics

Experts say this incident is only the beginning. As AI tools become more advanced, deepfakes like the one targeting AOC will likely become more common — and more dangerous.

“We’re entering an era where anyone with a laptop can generate convincing misinformation that targets public figures,” said Dr. Maya Sterling, a media ethics professor at UCLA. “It’s no longer just about fact-checking — it’s about educating the public to recognize synthetic media and demand transparency.”

Several lawmakers, including Ocasio-Cortez herself, have introduced or backed legislation aimed at regulating AI-generated political content, especially during election cycles.

“When a fake video can influence millions before it’s debunked, we have a national security issue, not just a PR problem,” AOC warned in a recent House hearing.

Final Thoughts: Accountability in the Age of AI

While Chris Cuomo’s willingness to walk back his mistake is a step in the right direction, the episode underscores a troubling new normal: seeing is no longer believing. The fact that a seasoned journalist could fall for a fake speaks volumes about how realistic these AI-generated media artifacts have become.

As political discourse grows more chaotic, and as public trust in institutions remains fragile, one thing is clear — the fight against misinformation won’t be won by algorithms alone. It will require a public that questions, a media that verifies, and lawmakers who act before the next fake video creates real-world consequences.