Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe faces backlash over racist remarks about Puerto Rico and Latinos at Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally.
A comedian’s controversial performance at former President Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden (MSG) rally has ignited widespread backlash after he referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” and made a series of racist remarks targeting Latino and Black attendees.
Tony Hinchcliffe, a stand-up comedian known for his provocative “roast” style comedy and hosting the podcast “Kill Tony”, faced swift backlash from prominent Democratic leaders following his Sunday appearance at the world-famous New York City venue, where his routine drew mixed reactions from the crowd.
The controversy erupted when Hinchcliffe asked, “Where are my proud Latinos at tonight?” before launching into a series of jokes about immigration and the Texas-Mexico border. “You guys see what I mean? It’s wide open; there’s so many of them”, he said, receiving scattered responses from the audience.
The comedian’s routine took a sharp turn when he compared Puerto Rico, a U.S. territory, to ocean waste. “There is literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now. I think it’s called Puerto Rico?” Hinchcliffe said, prompting murmurs and silence from the crowd.