When Indian American comedian Hari Kondabolu snubbed AOC before her 2017 primary

The Indian American comedian says snubbing AOC during her first congressional campaign is the “worst thing” he has “ever done” because of his ego.

One person who did not take the insurgent campaign of Democrat Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez seriously back in 2017 was Indian American comedian Hari Kondabolu.

The Queens-born Kondabolu says ignoring repeated messages from Rep. Ocasio-Cortez, popularly known as AOC, now a powerful progressive voice in the U.S. House of Representatives, during her first congressional campaign was the “worst thing” he has “ever done because of [his] ego.”

The comedian details his exchange with the then-candidate, in his hour-hour comedy special “Vacation Baby,” which has just been released on YouTube. Toward the end of the special,
Indian American says AOC reached out to him in 2017, via a direct message on Twitter to see if he is willing to collaborate with him.

According to Kondabolu, AOC wrote: “Hey there, my name is Alexandria, and I’m running an insurgent grassroots campaign for Congress in Queens and the Bronx. The race itself is very exciting. We represent a progressive movement that would lead to the first person of color to represent the district. Your standup comedy is amazing, and I know it must resonate with a lot of people. If you’d ever like to collaborate, let me know. My door is open.”

The comedian says he replied by saying that he was “pretty busy right now” and asking her to get back the next year, to which AOC responded, “Definitely.”

In their next exchange, Kondabolu even got AOC’s first name wrong, when he wrote, “Thanks for doing what you do, Alexis.”

READ: Hari Kondabolu torches man who shouts ‘Hail Trump’ during standup (May 17, 2018)

Three months later, AOC sent another message to Kondabolu: “Hey there, it’s a bit well past the new year, but if you happen to be around, I’d love to connect sometime to see what we can make happen for the community here in Queens. This is Alexandria, by the way, running for Congress out in New York, District 14, Queens and the Bronx.”

The comedian did not respond to that message. Kondabolu says it was when he watched the Democratic primary returns coming in on CNN three months later that he realized his big mistake. He says:

“I’m reading a scroll, on the bottom of the screen. It says, “Alexandria Ocasio. Oh shit, was that the lady?” Oh no, I think that was the lady! Did I ever write back? Fuck, I never wrote back. Shamelessly, the night she won, I finally wrote back. “Oh my God, you did it, I knew you’d win. Hey, if you’d never like to collaborate sometime.”

In the June 2018 primary, AOC defeated Rep. Joe Crowley, a 10-term incumbent and then-Democratic Caucus Chair, by nearly 15 percentage points. It was seen as a political earthquake of sorts.

READ: ‘The Problem With Apu’ trailer: Hari Kondabolu’s documentary explores racial stereotyping in ‘The Simpsons’ (August 3, 2017)

Kondabolu said liked replying to AOC after she wins the fucking election” to having “a child, during a global pandemic.” The comedy special “Vacation Baby” begins with his experience as a father.

Kondabolu adds, “And I don’t think she’s gonna write back. I think the door is closed.”

The comedian kicked off his 17-city tour in Milwaukee last week. He is scheduled to perform in Battleboro, VT, on May 2 and in Portsmouth, NH, on May 3. Other cities he will be performing include Chicago, Cincinnati (OH) and Toronto.

Watch Kondabolu’s new comedy special Vacation Baby: