10/28/2024October 28, 2024US politicians and celebrities condemn MAGA comedian’s comments about Puerto Rico
Republican President Donald Trump laid out his vision to American voters at a massive rally in New York City that drew backlash for derogatory jokes against the Hispanic community.
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe joked on stage about American Hispanics who “love to make babies” and derogated Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory in the Caribbean, as a “floating island of garbage.”
Hinchcliffe’s comments prompted backlash from Democratic candidate Kamala Harris, Democratic lawmakers and popular Puerto Rican celebrities.
“Puerto Ricans deserve a president who recognizes (their) strengths and invests in them," Harris said in a video posted on social media alongside Hinchcliffe’s comments.
Singer Ricky Martin, one of the island’s most successful artists, shared a video of Mr. Harris’ appeal to Puerto Rican voters and a clip of Mr. Hinchcliffe’s remarks, saying in Spanish, “They’re talking about us. “This is what I think,” he wrote, urging Harris to make his point. 18 million followers voted for Harris.
Bad Bunny, a Puerto Rican singer who is widely popular among young Hispanics in the United States, also shared one of her videos to her 45.6 million followers on Instagram, showing support for the vice president.
But Hinchcliffe’s comments also drew criticism from Republicans and pro-Trump politicians.
“Disgusted by @TonyHinchcliffe’s racist comments calling Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage.’ This rhetoric does not reflect the values of the GOP. Puerto Rico sent over 48,000 soldiers to Vietnam; Awarded over 345 Purple Hearts. This courage is admirable. Educate yourself!,” Florida Congresswoman Maria Salazar wrote about X.
“This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or his campaign,” Trump campaign spokesman Daniel Alvarez said in a statement, seeking to distance the former president from the controversy.
The backlash comes as Puerto Rican voters have emerged as a key voting bloc in battleground states like Pennsylvania, home to 450,000 people. Both sides are looking for votes as the margin of victory in the critical state remains slim.
jcg/wd (Reuters, AFP, AP, DPA)
