Tony Hinchcliffe calls Puerto Rico ‘garbage’

I’m Puerto Rican and my territory is not a “floating island of trash.” But the people who think that certainly are – even if it is disguised as humor.

When comedian Tony Hinchcliffe took the stage at Madison Square Garden in New York City on Sunday for a MAGA rally in support of Donald TrumpDuring the president’s presidential campaign, he not only crossed a line but completely erased it. What he called “humor” was a constant stream of racial slurs and dangerous conspiracy theories, from stereotypes about Latinos making multiple babies to the “great replacement theory,” the ideology behind violent hate crimes committed by white men against communities of color. This is no joke. It’s a weapon, and I’m tired of being targeted, and so are the rest of my people.

Growing up as a Puerto Rican and Black American, I was aware early on that I stood out among many of my classmates and neighbors. I learned to be proud of my roots, believing that America was a place where everyone, despite their differences, belonged. But that idea has changed a lot as I’ve gotten older and witnessed the rise of Trump and the MAGA movement, which cast people who look like me as the villains in a story we never wrote. This shift has forced me, and countless other Latinos, to confront a painful reality: In contemporary America, we have become the scapegoats in a narrative of fear, blamed and vilified to suit a political agenda.

Being labeled “an intruder” or “alien” is more than just an insult. It is a form of dehumanization that takes away the sense of belonging. Hearing these words in speeches, on social media and in government policy not only hurts, it frightens. It’s one thing when the words come from a stranger, but it’s another when it comes from a podium, wrapped in a so-called seal of patriotism.

When Hinchcliffe responded to criticism of his performance on 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 vacationing there. I made fun of everyone…watch the whole set. I’m a comedian, Tim…maybe it’s time to change your tampon.’

Your holiday in Puerto Rico? You might as well say you can’t be a racist because you have a black friend. And context? Hinchcliffe placed himself firmly at the center of this ‘context’. These weren’t ‘jokes’. It was hostility disguised as comedy, delivered with the arrogance of someone who doesn’t understand (or care) how these words affect real lives. These words don’t just hurt Latinos; they ripple through every marginalized community. When a group is vilified, it sets a precedent that any group can be targeted. The anti-immigrant sentiment championed by Trump and echoed by his followers sends the message loud and clear: When people show you who they are, believe them.

Today they are Puerto Ricans. Tomorrow it will be Mexicans again. A few weeks ago it was Haitians who ate dogs and cats. The strength of America, at least the version of America I thought I knew, has always come from the diversity of its people. We allow hatred disguised as comedy, or outright hatred, to take the reins. I beg us to reject it.

And here’s a stark reminder for you, Tony: More than 4,000 Puerto Ricans died in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria due to the botched response under the Trump administration. That wasn’t the point. It was negligence that turned into a tragedy. Your so-called “comedy” does not absolve you of the damage caused by your message tonight, which you normalize and perpetuate. It plays on loop at every MAGA party (I’m sure you’ll be there), and we don’t expect you to apologize. You never do that.

People who know ‘Kill Tony’ may remember May 2021. Hinchcliffe found his way into the eye of the ‘cancel culture’ storm. A racial slur against fellow comedian and Asian-American Peng Dang during a performance in Austin, Texas, catapulted him into a whirlwind of backlash. The incident, captured on video and widely reported on Twitter, resulted in Hinchcliffe being dropped by his talent agency WME.

He doubled down further in October 2023, when he further stirred the pot by appearing on the controversial far-right YouTube show ‘TRIGGERnometry’, where conspiracy theories are thrown around like popcorn. This time he portrayed Dang as “a Chinese spy” and claimed the incident was “an orchestrated attack by the Chinese media.”

When hate is celebrated under the guise of humor, its roots only deepen.

It doesn’t have to be this way. If we refuse to accept this hatred as “just politics” or “just jokes,” we can find a way to each other. No one is trying to suppress comedy. I am a supporter of this art form, but we must hold leaders, entertainers and everyday people accountable for their words and actions.

In the coming elections we have a choice. We can make Tony feel “vindicated” and right about the image he so mispainted tonight, allowing hate to shape decisions. Or we can choose compassion, understanding and unity. We can reject the politics of division and work to bridge the divide between us instead of building walls that divide us.

I’m reminded of something comedian Anthony Jeselnik said last year on Theo Von’s podcast “This Past Weekend,” when he said, “All these comics now think the point is almost to get in trouble.” ‘I’m a comedian. I can say whatever I want.’ That is wrong.”

Jeselnik then quotes Andy Warhol: “Art gets away with it.” If people are angry, you can’t get away with it.

So no, Tony, I don’t think you can get away with this.