AOC's Brother Shuts Down MAGA Rumor He Was Charged With 'Trafficking Fentanyl': 'Find Something Better to Do'

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's brother publicly debunked a viral rumor falsely accusing him of fentanyl trafficking, calling it dangerous disinformation and urging people to "find something better to do."

The false claim originated from a satirical news article that alleged "Matthew Ocasio-Cortez," supposedly AOC's brother, had been arrested with $1.2 million worth of fentanyl. The misinformation quickly spread on social media, amplified by accounts with MAGA-aligned audiences, despite the fact that AOC's only brother is named Gabriel Ocasio-Cortez and has no criminal history.

On April 22, Gabriel responded via TikTok, stating plainly: "I'm the brother... my name's not Matthew," and clarified that he has no connection to the story.

"I have no idea why they're posting this. 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," Gabriel said.

In a second video, he warned that viral lies—even if believed by only a fraction of viewers—can have real-world consequences, especially in an era of rising political extremism and threats.

"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," he continued. "And it wouldn't be the first time somebody's tried. That's the society that we're in, so things like this are just more serious than ever, and you can't slander people."