Comedian’s comment on Puerto Rico at Trump event sparks controversy

ONE PARTICULAR MOMENT FROM FORMER PRESIDENT TRUMP’S madison square garden RALLY IS MAKING HEADLINES THIS MORNING — BUT NOT FOR THE REASONS THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN WAS INTENDING.

BEFORE THE FORMER PRESIDENT TOOK THE STAGE SUNDAY NIGHT,  COMEDIAN AND PODCASTER TONY HINCHCLIFFE WAS ONE OF THE SPEAKERS WHO ADDRESSED THE CROWD.

IN HIS REMARKS – HINCHCLIFFE FOCUSED HIS ATTENTION ON THE UNITED STATES TERRORITY OF PUERTO RICO.

TONY HINCHCLIFFE | COMEDIAN

“THERE’S A LOT GOING ON. I DON’T KNOW IF YOU 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.

IN RESPONSE TO THE COMEDIAN’S COMMENT – TRUMP CAMPAIGN SENIOR ADVISER DANIELLE ALVAREZ ISSUED A STATEMENT SAYING QUOTE“THIS JOKE DOES NOT REFLECT THE VIEWS OF PRESIDENT TRUMP OR THE CAMPAIGN.”

HINCHCLIFFE’S COMMENT DREW INSTANT CRITICISM FROM DEMOCRATS AS WELL AS REPUBLICANS INCLUDING THE CHAIRMAN OF THE REPUBLICAN PARTY OF PUERTO RICO. PROMINENT PUERTO RICAN FIGURES INCLUDING ENTERTAINERS,  JENNIFER LOPEZ, BAD BUNNY AND RICKY MARTIN – ALL POSTED SUPPORT FOR KAMALA HARRIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA.

DEMOCRATIC VICE PRESIDENTIAL NOMINEE GOVERNOR TIM WALZ  AND CONGRESSWOMAN ALEXANDRIA OCASIO–CORTEZ REACTED TO HINCHCLIFFE DURING A LIVESTREAM OF THE EVENT.

WALZ: “People in Puerto Rico are citizens. They pay taxes and they serve in the military at almost a higher rate than anybody else.”  

AOC: “It’s super upsetting. My family is from Puerto Rico. I’m Puerto Rican.” 

HINCHCLIFFE LATER RESPONDED ON SOCIAL MEDIA – SAYING IN PART  “THESE PEOPLE HAVE NO SENSE OF HUMOR. WILD THAT A VICE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE WOULD TAKE TIME OUT OF HIS “BUSY SCHEDULE” TO ANALYZE A JOKE TAKEN OUT OF CONTEXT TO MAKE IT SEEM RACIST. I LOVE PUERTO RICO AND VACATION THERE. I MADE FUN OF EVERYONE…WATCH THE WHOLE SET.”