Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe is not going to apologize.
Hinchcliffe became the subject of social media backlash on Sunday after making a joke about Puerto Rico at Donald Trump’s rally in Madison Square Garden.
“There’s a lot going on. Like, 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,” Hinchcliffe said.
As a comedian, Hinchcliffe’s job is to write and tell jokes. He is famous for his joke writing, and he went viral earlier this year for his set of jokes at the Tom Brady roast. To be fair, the Puerto Rico joke bombed at the rally, but as a comedian, Hinchcliffe is no stranger to some jokes not performing well. Comedians refine their jokes over time, using audience feedback — good or bad — to improve them.
Democrats, who compared Trump’s rally to a Nazi gathering, lost their minds over the joke, claiming it is evidence that Trump and his supporters are racist.
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-N.Y.) and Democratic vice presidential nominee Tim Walz, for example, tried to spin Hinchcliffe’s joke as reality.
Specifically, Ocasio-Cortez claimed “that’s what they think about you,” meaning she claimed that Hinchcliffe’s joke demonstrates that Trump, his supporters, and Republicans believe that Americans are literal pieces of garbage. That is, of course, not true; Hinchcliffe’s joke was a joke.
But Hinchcliffe, who is no stranger to outrage mobs, made it clear he is not going to apologize, responding directly to Walz and Ocasio-Cortez.
“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,” Hinchcliffe said late Sunday.
“I’m a comedian Tim,” he added, “might be time to change your tampon.”
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. I’m a… https://t.co/VFxHRcdv5k
— Tony Hinchcliffe (@TonyHinchcliffe) October 27, 2024
Meanwhile, Puerto Ricans who attended Trump’s rally at MSG said Hinchcliffe’s joke did not offend them.
“We like jokes,” one Puerto Rican woman said.
“We do, and we understand the importance of a comedian having the freedom to push the envelope because that’s always been what has separated comedians from ‘everyday’ folks, right? They can push the envelope to make you laugh or make you think or challenge you,” another Puerto Rican woman said.
The first woman added, “Obviously, we’re proud Puerto Ricans, I will say that it is not a little floating pile of trash … it’s OK to have different opinions. That’s what makes America great.”
“We’re not offended,” the first woman went on to say.
Other Puerto Ricans were asked outside MSG if they “even give a f*** about” Hinchcliffe’s joke, and they made it clear they do not and agreed they are members of “Puerto Ricans for Trump.”
