Comic Tony Hinchcliffe is dealing with criticism after making a sequence of racially charged jokes at a rally in assist of Donald Trump in New York Metropolis.
On Sunday, Oct. 27, Hinchcliffe, 40, appeared at Trump’s rally at Madison Sq. Backyard — the place he was the primary speaker of almost 30 openers forward of the previous president’s remarks — and spoke crudely about Latinos, Black individuals and others.
“I welcome migrants to the USA of America with open arms. And by open arms I imply like this,” Hinchcliffe mentioned on the occasion, per Rolling Stone, earlier than waving his arms as if to say “go away.”
“These Latinos, they love making infants, too. Simply know that they do,” Hinchcliffe continued, per NBC Information. “There is not any pulling out. They don’t try this. They c– inside, similar to they did to our nation.”
Hinchcliffe, who is understood for writing for a number of of Comedy Central’s movie star roasts, additionally made jokes about Puerto Rico.
“I don’t know if you happen to guys know this, however there’s actually a floating island of rubbish in the course of the ocean proper now. I feel it is referred to as Puerto Rico,” he mentioned.
The Kill Tony podcast host additionally joked that he “carved watermelons” with a Black “buddy,” whereas pointing to a Black viewers member.
The comic, who has opened for stars similar to Joe Rogan and has a particular on Netflix, instantly drew criticism over the jokes. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and vice presidential nominee and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz watched a clip of the stand-up routine whereas livestreaming on Twitch on Sunday.
“Who is that this jackwad?” Walz mentioned of Hinchcliffe, earlier than criticizing Trump’s response to Hurricane Maria, which devastated Puerto Rico in 2017. “Individuals in Puerto Rico are residents. They pay taxes and serve within the army, nearly at a better price than anyone else.”
“It is tremendous upsetting to me,” Ocasio-Cortez mentioned partially. “My household is from Puerto Rico, I am Puerto Rican. The factor that’s so tousled that I want extra individuals understood is that the issues that they do in Puerto Rico are a testing floor for the insurance policies and the horrors that they unveil in working class communities throughout the USA.”
“When you’ve got some a-hole calling Puerto Rico ‘floating rubbish,’ know that that is what they consider you,” she added.
Quickly after Hinchcliffe’s feedback started to make the rounds on-line, Puerto Rican musician Dangerous Bunny endorsed Kamala Harris by posting a video of her plan for Puerto Rico on his Instagram Tales, after which enhancing the video to chop to Harris saying: “I’ll always remember what Donald Trump did.”
Singer Ricky Martin, who can be Puerto Rican, shared a clip of Hinchcliffe’s jokes on his Instagram Tales and wrote in Spanish: “That is what they consider us.”
By no means miss a narrative — join PEOPLE’s free each day publication to remain up-to-date on the most effective of what PEOPLE has to supply, from movie star information to forcing human curiosity tales.
In 2021, Hinchcliffe drew additional controversy and was dropped by his expertise company after he referred to as Asian American comic Peng Dang a racial slur, based on Rolling Stone.
In a while Sunday, Hinchcliffe wrote in a put up on X (previously Twitter) that he loves Puerto Rico and has vacationed there.
“Wild {that a} vice presidential candidate would take day trip of his ‘busy schedule’ to research a joke taken out of context to make it appear racist,” Hinchcliffe wrote. “I really like Puerto Rico and trip there. I made enjoyable of everybody…watch the entire set. I’m a comic Tim…is likely to be time to alter your tampon.”
Examine your voter registration, find your polling place, and make a voting plan at Vote.org to make sure that your voice is heard this election season.