Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez refused an invitation to appear on Fox News host Jesse Watters’ show this week, accusing him of sexually harassing her on television and engaging in what she called “horrific, sexually exploitive rhetoric.”
The exchange unfolded on Capitol Hill Wednesday when a man later identified by Mediaite as Johnny Belisario, a producer for Jesse Watters Primetime, approached Ocasio-Cortez and asked if she would be willing to join the show. The moment was captured on video by journalist Pablo Manríquez.
“Jesse Watters would like to invite you on his show,” the man said. When asked if she would join, Ocasio-Cortez immediately rejected the offer. “He has sexualized me on his show. He has sexually harassed me on his show. He has engaged in horrific, sexually exploitive rhetoric,” she said.
Belisario pushed back, telling the congresswoman the claim was untrue. Ocasio-Cortez responded sharply, citing a specific remark Watters made on air. “It is true because he accused me…of wanting to quote, unquote, sleep with Stephen Miller,” she said, before asking, “Why don’t you tell me what you think is acceptable to tell a woman?” She then walked away.
The accusation refers to comments Watters made in October on The Five, where he said, “I think AOC wants to sleep with Miller.” Watters added, “It is so obvious. And, I’m sorry, you can’t have him,” referring to Stephen Miller, who is married to former Trump administration official Katie Miller.
Watters’ remarks followed criticism from Ocasio-Cortez, who had encouraged Democrats to mock what she described as the “insecure masculinity” of MAGA men and referred to Miller as a “clown” during an Instagram livestream.
When asked about Ocasio-Cortez’s comments, Miller dismissed them during an appearance with Fox News host Laura Ingraham, saying, “Well, we knew that her brain didn’t work. Now we know her eyes don’t work.”
The Capitol Hill video was later shared online by MeidasTouch and quickly went viral, racking up roughly three million views on X.
Ocasio-Cortez responded to the viral clip with a blunt message of her own. “You can either be a pervert or ask me to be on your little show,” she wrote. “Not both. Good luck!”
