Rep. Paul Gosar (R-Arizona) is facing criticism for posting an edited clip from the popular anime Attack on Titan, changing the scene to show him killing Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-New York) and attacking President Joe Biden.
Gosar posted the clip Sunday night with the caption “any anime fans out there?” The tweet has since been flagged by Twitter for violating its guidelines on hateful conduct, limiting how people can interact or share the tweet.
Attack on Titan focuses on the last remaining humans on Earth attempting to survive constant attacks from monsters known as the titans.
The clip, which is an edited version of the show’s theme song, changes the show’s title to “Attack of the Immigrants” and replaces the clips of the titans attacking with clips of immigrants at the United States border.
At one point the words “drugs,” “crime,” “poverty,” “money,” “murder,” “gangs,” “violence” and “trafficking” are flashed on the screen.
The show’s protagonists are changed to be several notable figures in the Republican party, including Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Georgia) and former President Donald Trump.
Near of the end of the video Gosar, taking the place of the show’s protagonist kills a titan edited to look like Ocasio-Cortez, and attacks a titan edited to look like Biden.
The video has received widespread criticism from Twitter users, who called the video racist and said it was a threat of violence against several members of the United States government.
Ocasio-Cortez responded to the video, calling Gosar “creepy.”
“So while I was en route to Glasgow, a creepy member I work with who fundraises for Neo-Nazi groups shared a fantasy video of him killing me,” she tweeted. “And he’ll face no consequences bc @GOPLeader cheers him on with excuses. Fun Monday! Well, back to work bc institutions don’t protect woc.”
In a separate tweet she went on to say that white supremacy is for “extremely fragile people &sad men like [Gosar]” and that he “relies on the myth that he was born superior because deep down he knows he couldn’t open a pickle jar or read a whole book by himself.”
The video was condemned by House Speaker Nancy Pelosi(D-California) who called for an investigation into the matter.
Gosar has responded to the backlash with a meme making fun of people who are offended.
Attack on Titan, which is currently on hiatus, will resume in January with the second part of it’s fourth and final season.
