A Conservative Parent Is Using Her Daughter To Mock AOC And Critics Say She Clearly Doesn’t Care About The Girl’s Future
This newest AOC critic is a social media account using a young girl to mock and imitate the Representative.
Calling her Mini AOC, the account features Ava Martinez as the unflattering impersonator. The Twitter bio for the account claims that it is run by her mother. For her impersonations, Martinez uses familiar-looking glasses, red lipstick, and a ponytail to pull off the mimicry. In her posts, the 8-year-old girl reads from cue-cards as she mocks Ocasio-Cortez and her policies.
She additionally lampoons other Democrats and Independents like Nancy Pelosi, Joe Biden, and Bernie Sanders. For example, in a recent video, you will hear a horse neighing loudly in the background every time Martinez says the words “Nancy Pelosi.” The little social media celebrity also explains how she thinks a glass of prune juice would make a better House Speaker than Speaker Pelosi.
Martinez first experienced Social clout when her step-father, Salvatore Schachter, uploaded a video with her impressions back in April 2019. Since then, her performances have made her popular with Republican viewers. In fact, Martinez has appeared on both Fox News and Fox Business to share her right-wing takes.
While these videos may seem cute at first glance, the flippant way some devastating topics are being ridiculed is pretty sickening.
In a Twitter post made on July 1st, Martinez posted four pictures of herself looking distraught while clinging to a chain-link fence.
The tweet reads: “Every time I plan a visit to the park it’s closed! ???? Can everyone see how sad this makes me?! ☹️ #sad #MALA #MINIAOC”
The post is no doubt a swipe at the migrant detention facilities at our borders. Specifically, they are meant to mock images of the Representative’s trip to the Tornillo holding facility. These pictures were recently shared on Twitter by writer/photographer Ivan Pierre Aguirre. AOC and other Democratic politicians have made attempts to visit these spaces, only to be turned down by guards. The reported state of these facilities are inhuman and have been likened by Ocasio-Cortez as “concentration camp.”
These tweets and videos could be dismissed as a joke but the use of little Ava Martinez as their presenter is dangerously irresponsible.
While a child taking an interest in politics is usually something to celebrate, using Martinez to deliver anti-migrant sentiment isn’t. Making her the face of this account may get views and followers, but the adults responsible are doing so by manipulating this girl’s thoughts and opinions. It isn’t satire if she is too young to understand and form her own judgment. Using her voice in this manner takes away her autonomy.
The same can be said for other social media child stars. Many times, these children are driven to perform by their guardians. It becomes a full-time job and makes them public figures while still navigating childhood. There is money to be made in this medium and — as long as it’s profitable — child stars will be in danger of being manipulated to pursue that cash.
Twitter has pointed out the potential harm this obviously imposed performing can have.
Canadian actress Jean Yoon tweeted her opposition to using Martinez to mock such a serious issue. As an actress, she no doubt understands the pressure that this girl is under to perform as Mini AOC.
This Twitter user expressed condolences for Martinez.
More focused on Martinez’s future, this Twitter user hoped for a future where she won’t be exploited by her guardians. What this child needs is privacy and safe spaces to speak her own truth, not the words fed to her.
Kids are products of their environments. We can only hope that Ava Martinez’s environment doesn’t include this Mini AOC act for much longer.
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