Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe has stirred controversy following a joke about Puerto Rico during a recent appearance at a Donald Trump rally. His comments, which targeted Puerto Rico and the Latino community, sparked backlash from both political figures and the public.
Here is why comedian Tony Hinchcliffe is facing backlash for his Puerto Rico joke.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe faces backlash for his Puerto Rico joke
At a recent rally for former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe faced backlash for a controversial joke aimed at Puerto Rico.
During his set, Hinchcliffe made a series of offensive remarks, including calling Puerto Rico a “floating island of garbage” (via NBC News). The comment quickly attracted criticism from political figures like Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Governor Tim Walz, who condemned the statement as disrespectful to Puerto Ricans, who are U.S. citizens and serve in the military at high rates.
In his opening act, Hinchcliffe disparagingly mocked Latino family dynamics as well. His set continued with more inflammatory remarks, including one about a Black friend and watermelons. He also joined others at the rally in making offensive comments about Democratic politicians. Sid Rosenberg, another speaker at the event, called Hillary Clinton “a sick son of a b—-.” Meanwhile, another supporter of Trump described Vice President Kamala Harris as “the Antichrist.”
Hinchcliffe’s humor stirred negative reactions, particularly from the Latino community and those advocating for Puerto Rican rights. Following the backlash, Trump campaign adviser Danielle Alvarez released a statement distancing the former president from the comedian’s remark, stating that Hinchcliffe’s Puerto Rico joke “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
The comedian defended himself on social media, asserting that the joke was taken “out of context” and that he harbored no ill feelings toward Puerto Rico. Despite his defense, several Republican officials, including Rep. María Elvira Salazar, publicly condemned Hinchcliffe’s comments, arguing that such rhetoric does not align with GOP values.
