Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez reportedly ended her engagement with longtime fiancé Riley Roberts about 18 months ago, a development that predates her recent public announcement about freezing her eggs. The breakup between Ocasio-Cortez and Roberts, who met as undergraduates at Boston University, was first reported by Puck News.
The couple was last photographed together at the 2021 Met Gala, and Ocasio-Cortez announced their engagement the following year. Sources cited in reports indicated that Ocasio-Cortez stopped wearing her engagement ring in the months leading up to the decision not to marry.
This news comes shortly after Ocasio-Cortez shared a video on Instagram detailing her process of injecting fertility drugs in preparation for egg freezing. She framed the decision as a way for women to maintain control over their reproductive and career timelines, contrasting it with the perceived lack of such considerations for men in public life.
"This is just not something that men deal with," Ocasio-Cortez stated in her video. "Men run for office, or frankly, they interview for jobs and people don't think in the back of their mind, 'OK this guy's running for office, how old is he? Oh, well is he gonna wanna start a family?'"
She added, "This is a choice I am making to feel more in control of my life... And because women can do anything, and I think it's badass that I'm going to be giving myself shots in the green room [as I] get my glam on."
In a separate matter concerning Roberts, a July 2025 report from the House Ethics Committee reprimanded Ocasio-Cortez for listing Roberts as her "spouse" on federal documents for the 2021 Met Gala, while not including him as a spouse in her financial filings. The committee noted that while Ocasio-Cortez sought exceptions to gift rules applicable to spouses, she did not disclose Roberts's financial interests as required for legally married members.
Ocasio-Cortez's attorney argued that Roberts was not subject to financial disclosure guidance as he was not considered a spouse. However, the committee's report stated that Roberts had benefited from his association with the congresswoman, including receiving an official spouse's congressional pin, which grants access to restricted areas of the Capitol complex. The report also noted that Roberts and Ocasio-Cortez had been together since 2014 and lived together since 2016.
Ocasio-Cortez's office has been contacted for comment regarding the reported split. The congresswoman has recently faced questions about her future political ambitions, including speculation about potential runs for higher office. She has stated her current focus is on her congressional seat and the midterms, but has not ruled out future presidential aspirations or challenging Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer in 2028. She has also described her ambition as being "bigger than" holding a specific title, aiming instead "to change this country."