Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is welcomed by the Reverend Al Sharpton during a gathering of the National Action Network on April 5, 2019 in New York. (Photo credit should read DON EMMERT/AFP/Getty Images)

Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez is defending herself after critics say she used a fake accent during a speech to a crowd of primarily black people.

“Folks talking about my voice can step right off,” Ocasio-Cortez said on Twitter Friday night. “Any kid who grew up in a distinct linguistic culture & had to learn to navigate class enviros at school/work knows what’s up. My Spanish is the same way.”

Folks talking about my voice can step right off. Women’s March & Kavanaugh speech, same. Any kid who grew up in a distinct linguistic culture & had to learn to navigate class enviros at school/work knows what’s up. My Spanish is the same way. These conspiracy mills are 🚮. https://t.co/8li33Jd6DL — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 5, 2019

“As much as the right wants to distort & deflect, I am from the Bronx. I act & talk like it, *especially* when I’m fired up and especially when I’m home. It is so hurtful to see how every aspect of my life is weaponized against me, yet somehow asserted as false at the same time,” she added.

As much as the right wants to distort & deflect, I am from the Bronx. I act & talk like it, *especially* when I’m fired up and especially when I’m home. It is so hurtful to see how every aspect of my life is weaponized against me, yet somehow asserted as false at the same time. — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (@AOC) April 5, 2019

The speech, which took place at Al Sharpton’s National Action Network Convention in New York, included a passionate declaration about her own background in the service industry, and the pride people should feel to work in those roles.

“I’m proud to be a bartender, ain’t nothing wrong with that,” she told the audience. “There’s nothing wrong with working retail, folding clothes for other people to buy. There is nothing wrong with preparing the food that your neighbors will eat. There is nothing wrong with driving the buses that take your family to work. There is nothing wrong with being a working person in the United States of America, and there is everything dignified about it.”

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Response on Twitter varied, ranging from claims that Ocasio-Cortez was pandering to the crowd, to those that said it was simply what happens during a passionate declaration.

Pandering👏🏻is👏🏻pandering👏🏻no👏🏻matter👏🏻how 👏🏻you 👏🏻explain 👏🏻it! — Callum Lynch (@AguilarDeNerah) April 5, 2019

Girl, listen to yourself. You are using a fake accent as a condescending tool to appeal to this particular audience. You’re dumb for not acknowledging and apologizing for this 🤦‍♀️ — superCALLAfragilisti (@super_calla_) April 6, 2019

She’s literally claiming that she normally talks like that, which is a patently false claim. Play a clip of her Instagram rants, go and listen to her speech at the women’s march. She claims she talks the same way there. She’s basically playing you and other supporters as a fool. — superCALLAfragilisti (@super_calla_) April 6, 2019

Some people sided with Ocasio-Cortez, saying it was an example of her own slang coming out during a strong and passionate moment.

Its like people that are from the south who don’t live in the south anymore . The closer they get to their home town the more pronounced their accent is . — IamMonaé💜🦄 (@foreverlibra93) April 5, 2019

This is a well-documented sociolinguistic phenomenon called “style switching”. It’s an effective communicative strategy used around the world, often to express solidarity. Those who mishear it as inauthentic may not have experienced style switching in their own social settings. — 💬 (@ashvineya) April 6, 2019

In @AOC‘s defense…

This ‘inspeak’ isn’t any different as when a Texan talks to Oklahoman’s, or in this specific case a Wisconsinite to Minnesotan’s. They all speak the same dialect as they feel suits the situation. You have probably done it to a Canadian at least once. pic.twitter.com/8mteJYvJyL — The Roundabout (@JamesRubino16) April 6, 2019

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