Puerto Rican Celebrities Rally Behind Kamala Harris Following Racist Remarks at Trump Campaign Event

Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin, and Others Voice Outrage After Comedian’s Offensive Comment; Trump Campaign Clarifies Stand

In the wake of a controversial joke made at a Trump rally, several prominent Puerto Rican artists, including Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin, have stepped up to show solidarity with Vice President Kamala Harris, who condemned the offensive comments. The backlash followed remarks from comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” during a campaign event for former President Donald Trump at Madison Square Garden.

The Comments That Sparked Outrage

The inflammatory statement, made by Hinchcliffe under his stage name “Kill Tony,” compared Puerto Rico to an oceanic garbage patch, saying, “There’s literally a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean right now … I think it’s called Puerto Rico.” His comments quickly triggered a social media firestorm, with Puerto Rican icons condemning the remarks as derogatory and offensive.

Puerto Rican Celebrities Respond

Bad Bunny, known for his strong ties to Puerto Rico, reposted a video from Harris’ campaign where she speaks out against Trump’s past treatment of Puerto Rico, including his response after hurricanes Maria and Irma in 2017. Bad Bunny highlighted her 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,” calling for accountability.

Jennifer Lopez, a longtime advocate for Puerto Rican issues, shared the same Harris video and added her support by posting the Puerto Rican flag and clapping emojis. Similarly, Ricky Martin expressed his support for Harris by sharing the clip with his 18.5 million Instagram followers, writing in Spanish, “This is what they think of us. Vote for Kamala Harris.”

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Gina Rodriguez, and More Join the Chorus

Joining the movement, Lin-Manuel Miranda shared his personal grievances with Trump’s administration, recalling what he described as disrespect toward Puerto Rico after the devastation of Hurricane Maria. In his message, he encouraged followers to remember this treatment when casting their votes, emphasizing that, “This ‘joke’ is a reminder of how bad it was under Trump, how he treated our people in our moment of need.” Other Puerto Rican and Latino actors, including Rosie Perez and Gina Rodriguez, echoed this sentiment, using their platforms to encourage Puerto Ricans to support Harris and make their voices heard.

Niecy Nash-Betts also condemned the comments, creating a video montage highlighting several offensive parts of Hinchcliffe’s performance and adding, “If you are a part of any group he mentioned … WAKE UP. IT WILL ONLY GET WORSE FROM HERE.”

Trump Campaign Issues Statement Amid Backlash

Following the backlash, Trump’s campaign issued a statement clarifying that Hinchcliffe’s joke “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.” Hinchcliffe responded on social media, stating his intention was to make fun of “everyone” and adding, “These people have no sense of humor.” However, many Puerto Rican and Latino advocates see this as emblematic of deeper issues and have called for a stronger stance against such rhetoric.

An Energized Puerto Rican Voting Bloc

As Puerto Rican Americans make up the second-largest Latino voting bloc in the United States, this incident has reignited conversations about Puerto Rican identity, representation, and respect. Trump’s team has been actively pursuing the Latino vote, boasting endorsements from artists like Anuel AA and Nicky Jam, who command substantial influence among young Latino voters. However, comments like Hinchcliffe’s could undermine those efforts by alienating Puerto Rican voters who feel slighted by the tone and treatment they’ve observed from Trump’s camp.

With the election nearing, Puerto Rican celebrities are making it clear where they stand, urging their followers to vote for Kamala Harris and remember these instances when casting their ballots. Their calls are a rallying cry not only for Puerto Rican pride but also for an inclusive America that respects all its people.