Tony Hinchcliffe is a “roast comic” or “insult comic” whose normal show begins with a flurry of insults toward his audience, calling people attending “a pig dressed like a cheetah” or making snide, profane comments about the city where he’s appearing. His typical show is composed almost entirely of racist, misogynistic jokes. So it should not have been a surprise to anyone when his warm-up set at a political rally contained multiple racist jokes. It might have been a surprise to Hinchliffe and his fans when mainstream media, social media, and the U.S. Congress reacted to one of his jokes with a degree of anger and outrage rarely shared by so many on both ends of the political spectrum.
What was the joke?
Hinchcliffe said, “”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.”
Congressional response
At least two dozen legislators from the House and Senate immediately responded on X, Instagram, and Facebook. Both Democrats and Republicans expressed disgust and anger.
A few examples:
- “As a Puerto Rican, I am tempted to call Hinchcliffe racist garbage but doing so would be an insult to garbage. When casting their ballots at the voting booth, Latinos should never forget the racism that Donald Trump seems all too willing to platform.” — Ritchie Torres (D-NY)
- “I’m proud to be Puerto Rican. My mom was born and raised in Puerto Rico. It’s a beautiful island with a rich culture and an integral part of the USA. The only thing that’s ‘garbage’ was a bad comedy set. Stay on message. ” — Rep. Anthony D’Esposito (R-NY)
- “Time and time again we see how racist and distasteful attacks on people continue to divide our country. There is no room for hate against the people of Puerto Rico or the beautiful island. The people of Puerto Rico had to endure so much during the Trump presidency after Hurricane Maria. We can and must do better.” — Rep. Andy Kim (D-NJ)
- “Disgusted by @TonyHinchcliffe’s racist comment calling Puerto Rico a ‘floating island of garbage.’ This rhetoric does not reflect GOP values. Puerto Rico sent 48,000+ soldiers to Vietnam, with over 345 Purple Hearts awarded. This bravery deserves respect. Educate yourself!” — Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R-FL)
- “Despicable, undisguised racism. The brave, patriotic people of Puerto Rico—our fellow Americans—don’t deserve this stomach turning disrespect. All Americans should denounce it.” — Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-CT)
- “This is not a joke. It’s completely classless & in poor taste. Puerto Rico is the crown jewel of the Caribbean & home to many of the most patriotic Americans I know. @TonyHinchcliffe clearly isn’t funny & definitely doesn’t reflect my values or those of the Republican Party.” –Rep. Carlos Giménez (R-FL)
Beyond Congress
Social media was equally negative about the Hinchcliffe gaffe. Mainstream media in the U.S. and abroad reported and rebuked the joke. Puerto Rican luminaries such as Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin responded. Few public figures offered support of any kind, though J.D. Vance said that people should just “stop getting offended,” a reaction that echoed Hinchcliffe’s own response.
Why Puerto Rico?
Hinchcliffe made other offensive jokes during the same set which are, as Jon Stewart pointed out, the type of joke he normally makes. It was not an ad-libbed line, as is evidenced by the fact that he tried it out the day before the rally.
There is no clear explanation for Hinchcliffe’s choice of Puerto Rico as the butt of a joke. The degree of outrage brought up by that particular joke shows U.S. support for Puerto Rico, respect for the U.S. citizens who call Puerto Rico home, and recognition of the inherent dignity of the U.S. territory.
It is also possible that the political power of Puerto Rican voters in the states, particularly in Pennsylvania, may be the most enduring legacy of the now infamous comment. Is this a group that a political candidate should alienate less than a week before the election? Political observers will have their answer next week.
