Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., reportedly erupted at a Fox News producer this week after being invited to appear on Jesse Watters Primetime, delivering a sharp rebuke and later labeling the show’s host a “pervert.” The exchange, which unfolded outside the U.S. Capitol, quickly made the rounds online and highlighted the congresswoman’s ongoing hostility toward conservative media.
On Wednesday, Johnny Belisario, a producer for Jesse Watters Primetime, approached Ocasio-Cortez to extend an invitation for her to come on the program. The encounter was recorded on video and later shared on social media by Pablo Manríquez of Migrant Insider and reposted by Acyn Torabi of MeidasTouch.
Belisario politely asked the New York Democrat if she would consider joining Watters on the show. Ocasio-Cortez immediately dismissed the invitation, accusing the Fox News host of inappropriate conduct.
“He has sexualized and harassed me on his show,” Ocasio-Cortez said. “He has sexually harassed me on his show. He has engaged in horrific, sexually exploitative rhetoric.”
Belisario pushed back on the claim, telling the congresswoman, “That’s not true, Congresswoman.” Ocasio-Cortez doubled down, insisting that it was true and pointing to comments Watters made last fall.
You can either be a pervert or ask me to be on your little show. Not both.
Good luck! https://t.co/RUYEgSrG2M
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) January 8, 2026
“It is true,” she replied, alleging that Watters accused her of wanting to “sleep with Stephen Miller.” She then challenged Belisario directly, asking what he thought was acceptable to say about a woman, before abruptly walking away from the conversation.
The exchange stems from remarks Watters made in October, when he said he thought “AOC wants to sleep with” Stephen Miller, who served as Deputy White House Chief of Staff. The comment followed a separate clash between Ocasio-Cortez and Miller the day before, during which the congresswoman called Miller a “clown” and falsely alleged that he is 4 feet 10 inches tall.
After the Capitol encounter, Ocasio-Cortez took to social media to further escalate the dispute. Quote-tweeting the video of her interaction with Belisario, she issued a blunt message aimed at Watters.
“You can either be a pervert or ask me to be on your little show. Not both,” she wrote. “Good luck!”
Watters, for his part, previously defended Miller during the October dustup, referring to the White House official as a “sexual matador.” That defense came amid the broader back-and-forth between the Fox News host and the progressive lawmaker, who has frequently clashed with conservative commentators.
The incident underscores the deep divide between Ocasio-Cortez and Fox News personalities, as well as her refusal to engage with outlets she accuses of mistreatment. It also highlights how quickly a routine media invitation can turn into a public confrontation, amplified through social media and partisan platforms.
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