Outrage as Comedian Mocks Puerto Rico at Trump Rally; Stars Respond
During a Sunday event at New York’s Madison Square Garden, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe sparked widespread backlash after making a derogatory comment about Puerto Rico. Hinchcliffe referred to the island as “a floating island of garbage,” a remark that quickly drew criticism from both public figures and communities.
Following the incident, prominent Puerto Rican artists like Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin publicly voiced their support for Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris and denounced the comments made at the rally. These stars, alongside other celebrities and public figures, united to call out the offensive rhetoric and remind their followers of the importance of the upcoming election.
Bad Bunny, who has over 45 million followers on Instagram, responded by sharing a video of Kamala Harris addressing the neglect Puerto Rico faced in the aftermath of Hurricanes Irma and Maria in 2017, when delays in federal aid left thousands dead and extensive damage unaddressed. The Puerto Rican rapper’s post highlighted Harris’s statement: “I will never forget what Donald Trump did, and what he did not do, when Puerto Rico needed a caring and a competent leader.”
Jennifer Lopez, herself of Puerto Rican descent with a social media following of 250 million, also shared Harris’s video and her proposal to support Puerto Rico. Ricky Martin echoed similar sentiments, reposting clips of the rally along with his endorsement of Harris’s commitment to Puerto Rican communities.
New York Congressman Ritchie Torres, of Puerto Rican heritage, took to X (formerly Twitter) to criticize Hinchcliffe’s comments, saying, “As a Puerto Rican, I am tempted to call Hinchcliffe racist garbage, but doing so would be an insult to garbage.”
In response to the rally and its rhetoric, Ana Navarro, co-host of The View, joined in condemning the offensive statements, emphasizing the role of Latino voters in the upcoming election. She pointed to Trump’s long history of targeting communities of color and urged Latino voters to remember these incidents when casting their ballots. “Vote with dignity and self-respect,” she urged.
Navarro and her View co-host Sunny Hostin discussed the controversy further on their Monday broadcast. Hostin, herself Puerto Rican, responded passionately to the insult: “Puerto Rico is trash? We are Americans, Donald Trump. Americans.” She continued, reminding the audience that Puerto Ricans serve disproportionately high numbers in the military and that they will make their voices heard at the polls.
As the election approaches, Harris’s campaign has seized the moment to engage with Puerto Rican and Latino voters in key swing states, reminding them of Trump’s controversial comments and actions towards Puerto Rico in past years. Democratic organization Battleground New York released a statement Sunday night decrying the rally as “an obscene display of unvarnished bigotry,” a sentiment echoed by many.
With Election Day just days away, leaders and influencers alike are calling on voters to remember the power of their voices and the significance of this moment. Hostin closed her segment with a reminder: “Puerto Rican trash collection day is Nov. 5, 2024. Don’t forget it.”