Masha Fante
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez has had a big week.
On Thursday, she was sworn in as the youngest woman to ever serve in Congress. Later that day, she was unofficially/officially inducted into The Breakfast Club after an attempt to “own” her backfired in one of the most beautiful ways ever witnessed on social media.
A video of college-era Ocasio-Cortez doing all the dances from the dance montage in ’80s cult classic The Breakfast Club began to circulate on Wednesday after a couple of right-wing Twitter trolls tried to disseminate it as shameful and scandalous.
Much to their chagrin, the footage did go viral—though not for the reasons they’d hoped. Instead, the adorable video endeared people to the fun-loving, swift-footed AOC in a way no promotional ad could ever have hoped to.
It even drew responses from actual Breakfast Club stars Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy.
“That’s it, Alexandria you’re in the club! @allysheedy1 #AlexandriaOcasioCortez #DemsTakeTheHouse,” Ringwald wrote on Twitter.
That's it, Alexandria you're in the club! ❤️❤️ @allysheedy1 #AlexandriaOcasioCortez #DemsTakeTheHouse
— Molly Ringwald (@MollyRingwald) January 4, 2019
Sheedy retweeted the message, with a single Emoji as commentary:
— ally sheedy (@allysheedy1) January 4, 2019
She also voiced her approval in a reply to CNN anchor Jake Tapper:
I’m pretty happy ‘bout it.
— ally sheedy (@allysheedy1) January 3, 2019
The failed smear-tweet instantaneously drew a flood of sarcastic comments—including snarky messages from other celebrities, columnists, politicians, and social media personalities dragging the embarrassing attempt at mudslinging.
Well, @AOC is officially done. She’ll never recover from the world seeing her…
(watches video)
…dancing adorably and having fun with her friends in high school? https://t.co/0zENCzBinA
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 3, 2019
Look at this embarrassing picture of Alexandria Ocasi– oh wait it's just Mitch McConnell with a Confederate battle flag. pic.twitter.com/cj1Zf7QhIq
— Paul Blumenthal (@PaulBlu) January 3, 2019
Now she's totally done for. Newly unearthed video reveals that when @AOC was in college, she was … adorable. https://t.co/EkqXTrQSAo
— Karen Tumulty (@ktumulty) January 3, 2019
oh no please don’t share this video of AOC seeming extremely fun. this is extremely damaging stuff that only the best oppo research would have uncovered. https://t.co/fXR8YiGz46
— ☕netw3rk (@netw3rk) January 3, 2019
If you're upset by what Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez did in high school, wait until you find out about Brett Kavanaugh.
— Doug Gordon (@BrooklynSpoke) January 3, 2019
Brett Kavanagh: here's my high school calendar where I wrote "don't do sex crimes" on my daily schedule for an entire year
Conservatives: that's normal
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez: here's a video of me dancing with my friends in high school
Conservatives: what the fuck— michael lutz (@WarrenIsDead) January 3, 2019
It’s hard for me to figure out why @AOC would or should feel embarrassed about videos of her having a good time and dancing in high school when Paul Ryan took these photos while running for Vice President pic.twitter.com/ZDfIhyKb2z
— elan gale (@theyearofelan) January 3, 2019
I keep rewatching the @AOC dancing video and can’t find the problem. She’s… having fun? Has friends? Likes music?
GOP is threatened by her because she represents every demographic they struggle with (young ppl, women, ppl of color) while making Dems look fun and cool
— Charlotte Alter (@CharlotteAlter) January 3, 2019
GOP: Here's Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez in high school DANCING! She's so frivolous!
GOP: Did you know that Beto O'Rourke was in a punk rock band?! Shocking!
Dems: Brett Kavenaugh-
GOP: That was a long time ago!
— Chris Cherry (@chriscereza) January 4, 2019
Anyone who thinks video of Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez dancing as a teen will derail her political career will be devastated by video of Trump speaking as an adult.
— Joseph Scrimshaw (@JosephScrimshaw) January 3, 2019
Imagine being embarrassed for looking hot and dancing on a roof. Humiliated by your clear skin and healthy, shiny hair. Mortified by your own innate sense of rhythm.
— Joel Kim Booster (@ihatejoelkim) January 4, 2019
Hopefully Ocasio-Cortez addresses this VERY EMBARRASSING SCANDAL as soon as she returns from being sworn in to the United States House of Representatives