Democratic Socialist Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and her longtime fiancé, Riley Roberts, have ended their relationship and canceled their engagement. TMZ reported the split, noting the two separated approximately two years ago after meeting as university students in Boston and getting engaged in Puerto Rico in 2022.
Splitting After Years Together and a Puerto Rico Engagement
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Riley Roberts have ended their relationship and canceled their engagement, according to a confirmation from TMZ. The couple, who first met as students at Boston University, had been together for years before they got engaged in Puerto Rico in April 2022. Ocasio-Cortez publicly confirmed the engagement on May 19, 2022, sharing her excitement on social media to confirm that it was true and thanking everyone for the well wishes ☺️ alongside a link to her account.
Before their engagement, Roberts appeared in the 2018 political documentary Knock Down The House, where he discussed his support for Ocasio-Cortez’s political career. The lawmaker, a former bartender born in the Bronx who represents parts of Queens and the Bronx, rose to prominence as one of the most recognized figures of the progressive wing of the Democratic Party following her 2018 election victory. Their public appearances together slowed over the years, with the Met Gala on September 13, 2021, marking their last public image together.
Contradictory Timelines and Public Sightings
While the outlet reported that the two ended their relationship approximately two years ago, social media posts have complicated the exact timeline of their separation. Reporting from TMZ noted that the pair had not been seen together in public and were last photographed together in 2021.
However, social media documentation captured a different moment. An Instagram post surfaced showing the couple dining together at a Manhattan burger joint on May 4. This subsequent documentation sparked renewed online discussion about the exact nature and timing of their private separation as details emerged over the weekend.
Fertility Choices and Political Speculation
Public curiosity regarding the status of the relationship intensified after Ocasio-Cortez began sharing her personal experience with the process of freezing her eggs. The 36-year-old congresswoman posted video footage of herself administering hormone injections, describing the medical decision in direct terms while addressing critics and male political figures.
U.S. Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez stated that this is a choice she is making to feel more in control of her life, adding that if people want to make assumptions about her decision, they should let them, and that she feels empowered to make this choice.
The announcement arrived amid growing speculation surrounding her potential candidacy in the 2028 presidential election.
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