U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez​ is a rising star in politics, but we don't
know much about her long-time boyfriend, Riley Roberts.
He's been likened to a raccoon and a Game of Thrones warrior, but let's go beyond the
digs and dig deeper into the untold truth of AOC's leading man.
AOC's mom, Blanca, definitely considers Riley Roberts marriage material.
Blanca told the Daily Mail in March 2019,
"I love him!
He is the most loving, supporting person I've seen.
He helped [Alexandria] tremendously during the election.
They've been together for four years now, after they reconnected from a college breakup."
Blanca hopes to hear wedding bells in the couples' future, but can't confirm anything,
telling the tabloid,
"I know they love children, and they do very well with children from the family.
So, I hope they get married soon.
Although they haven't told me anything about their plans."
Roberts was raised in the affluent community of Paradise Valley, Arizona, which Forbes
ranked as one of the "25 Top Places to Retire Rich."
The New York Post reports that Roberts graduated from Chaparral High School in nearby Scottsdale
in 2008, after winning statewide honors in public-forum debate.
After graduating from Boston University with a double major in sociology and finance, he
reportedly returned to Arizona where he built websites for small businesses.
Roberts' mom appears to be as smitten with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez as AOC's mom is with
her daughter's match.
In fact, Connie Roberts, a well-known realtor in the Greater Phoenix Metro Area, gifted
her a beaded, handcrafted "statement necklace" made by a family friend.
AOC wore the black, white, and silver pearl-drop necklace during her 2018 campaign, much to
the delight of Connie, who told a local newspaper, quote, "It was given to her with love."
Roberts has a lengthy resume from working in the tech industry as a web consultant,
but right-wing conspiracy types have claimed he's actually secretly working for his girlfriend,
now that she's a U.S. Representative.
National Review writer Luke Thompson accused AOC of quietly putting Roberts on her payroll
by tweeting a screenshot from an unknown source that showed Roberts with what appears to be
a government email.
AOC's Chief of Staff, Saikat Chakrabarti, responded to Thompson via Twitter, insisting
that Roberts is "not paid" and "not doing any government work."
Chakrabarti tweeted that spouses and partners normally get government email addresses for
the purpose of getting calendar access.
AOC also responded to the claim on Twitter, writing,
"Next time check your facts before you tweet nonsense."
Although AOC generally avoids talking about Roberts in interviews and on social media,
she did shed some light on the beginning of their courtship in an interview with Vogue.
The two Boston University students reportedly met, quote, "in true nerdy fashion" at a weekly
gathering hosted by the university's dean.
The world learned more about Roberts via the Netflix documentary Knock Down the House,
but not much.
"One of these core, core issues with the Democratic establishment is that their consultants are
garbage."
The film depicts AOC and Roberts going about their daily lives in their tiny apartment;
him supporting her seconds before her big win; and a tender scene where he wipes away
tears in front of the Capitol building.
The film's director, Rachel Lears, suggested that AOC leans heavily on her strong, silent-type
boyfriend.
Lears told Business Insider,
"He was a big support system for her.
He was emotionally supportive to her and a good partner, but he's also a social media-marketing
expert by profession, so he contributed strategic advice and dialogue.
I heard a lot of rants in that apartment about politics they would talk with each other about
ideas.
So in everything from the emotional to the strategic to the practical he's been a really
important partner to her."
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's man often gets mistaken for another Riley Roberts, a well-known
political speechwriter who also resides in D.C.
Not only do AOC's beau and the Obama administration veteran share the same name, but they also
resemble one another.
The similarities have confused some, including Beltway-based author Dannielle Blumenthal,
who tweeted:
"I thought I had discovered a connection between Eric Holder and AOC's boyfriend, Riley Roberts
but that turned out to be incorrect.
Eric Holder's speechwriter Riley Roberts is a different person.
They look similar and it is easy to confuse them."
French feminist writer Marie Le Conte, meanwhile, thought Roberts resembled another species,
tweeting,
"Apologies for the blatantly mean tweet but THIS is what AOC's boyfriend looks like?
incredible scenes [in Knock Down the House], truly representing all the ambitious and stunning
millennial women shackled to boyfriends who look like bin raccoons out there"
Others came to his defense, suggesting more favorable comparisons, like Wildling warrior
Tormund from Game of Thrones.
Roberts was eventually "Twitter-shamed" into getting a makeover, although AOC seemed to
make light of the hairy situation in an Instagram story showcasing his fresh trim, writing,
"The internet roasted Riley into getting a haircut/glow up after #KnockDownTheHouse."
Despite being called everything from an "exotic beard oil enthusiast" to a "bin raccoon,"
Riley Roberts has also become a dream boyfriend to some, lauded for his support and dedication
to Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez's personal and professional life.
Feminist author Liz Plank tweeted:
"After watching the AOC doc I keep thinking about how crucial it is for women to have
partners that celebrate rather than co-op their successes and how little we encourage
or prepare men to fill that role.”
Nylon writer Bailey Calfee addressed the hate directed at Roberts in a stern editorial,
writing,
"The way a person looks says pretty much nothing about them […] If Roberts didn't support
AOC's journey to Congress, then, sure, he would be pretty representative of the s-----
men that straight women sometimes choose to date, but he did."
"I'm proud of you."
"I love you too."
"So proud of you.
Whatever happens, okay?"
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