NEW YORK — Among the nearly 30 individuals who recently entertained audiences prior to Donald Trump’s appearance at Madison Square Garden, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe stood out for his controversial and racially charged comments.
Hinchcliffe remarked, “I don’t know if you guys know this, but there’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico,” further adding crude and offensive remarks targeting Latinos, Jews, and Black individuals.
These comments drew sharp criticism from Democrats and various Puerto Rican celebrities. Singer Ricky Martin shared a clip of Hinchcliffe’s routine with the caption: “This is what they think of us.”
In response, the Trump campaign quickly distanced itself from Hinchcliffe, with senior adviser Danielle Alvarez stating, “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
To provide some context about Tony Hinchcliffe, he grew up in Youngstown, Ohio, and is known for his roast-style comedy, where comedians deliver sharp, personal jabs at their subjects. He has participated in and written for multiple Comedy Central Roasts featuring celebrities like Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady.
Fellow comedians are also fair game in his jokes; for instance, during the roast for Snoop, Hinchcliffe made a quip involving Black comedian Luenell and the Underground Railroad. He humorously commented to Snoop, “You look like the California Raisin that got hooked on heroin.”
Hinchcliffe gained further recognition with his Netflix special in 2016, titled “Tony Hinchcliffe: One Shot,” which showcased his act in a single take. However, he is perhaps best known as the host of the “Kill Tony” podcast since 2013, where comedians, both seasoned and novice, perform for judges before receiving critiques.
He has opened for notable comics such as Joe Rogan and Jeff Ross and is credited with crafting some of Martha Stewart’s edgy jokes during a roast for Justin Bieber.
However, Hinchcliffe has been no stranger to backlash. He faced significant criticism in 2021 after using a racial slur aimed at fellow comedian Peng Dang during a performance in Austin, Texas. This incident resulted in his agency, WME, severing ties with him and several of his shows being canceled, though he never issued an apology.
Earlier this year, Hinchcliffe commented, “I knew that what I had done was not wrong. It wasn’t even the worst thing I did that week. It was so dumbfounding to me because it was a joke, and my stance is that comedians should never apologize for a joke.”
Reactions to Hinchcliffe’s performance at the Trump rally were swift and diverse. Democratic vice presidential nominee Governor Tim Walz criticized him as a “jack-wad,” while U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who has Puerto Rican heritage, found his remarks “super-upsetting.”
On the Republican side, Florida Senator Rick Scott, who is seeking reelection in a state with a large Puerto Rican population, expressed on social media that the “joke bombed for a reason” and celebrated Puerto Ricans as “amazing people and amazing Americans!”
In his defense, Hinchcliffe maintained that his comedy is often misunderstood. He commented on social media regarding the backlash, stating, “These people have no sense of humor.” He went on to criticize politicians for analyzing his jokes out of context, asserting, “I love Puerto Rico and vacation there.”
In the past, he has made headlines for controversial jokes involving figures like Sean “Diddy” Combs and George Floyd as well as commenting on incidents like the Baltimore Bridge collapse.
“I think people must realize that we are professionals. And yes, sure, we deal with the repercussions of what happens,” he said earlier this year.