Tony Hinchcliffe: Unfunny Comedian, Even Worse Person and Public Speaker

With the election and voting coming closer and closer, candidates are hoping to achieve more traction and follow through with their campaign through big rallies. For example, Donald Trump, the republican party’s candidate, recently hosted a rally at Madison Square Garden in New York City. The rally had over 19,000 in attendance and had speakers such as Hulk Hogan and Elon Musk. 

One of the most notable and seemingly defining moments of the rally, however, came from Tony Hinchcliffe. Hinchcliffe is a “world-renowned” (his words, not mine) stand-up comedian. Throughout his speech, Hinchliffe attempted to make several jokes surrounding subjects such as Puerto Rico, people of color and Kamala Harris and the democratic party. 

In his joke about Puerto Rico, Hinchliffe is quoted as saying, “"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." The joke was met with two reactions. At the rally, people cheered on for him to continue, as they did with his previous jokes. Online, many people such as influential artists and celebrities like Bad Bunny and Luis Fonsi called him out. 

Hinchcliffe made similarly offensive jokes surrounding Latinos and said how they “love making babies” and how they love to “come inside, just like they did to our country.” Hinchcliffe continuously made several remarks and crude jokes about people in this country, solely because they were different and because he knew he could use his power to degrade and make fun of them.

Tim Walz, the democratic party’s candidate for vice president, voiced his distaste for the joke and his allyship with Puerto Rico and its people. Even with facing backlash, Hinchcliffe and his supporters see nothing wrong with his jokes. Hinchliffe replied to Waltz in a tweet on X (formerly Twitter) by saying, “"I made fun of everyone...watch the whole set. I'm a comedian Tim...might be time to change your tampon." Another joke which degrades a marginalized community. As people on the internet and in real life try to defend him, his jokes, and the rally, it becomes clear where their morals lie.