Comedian's Puerto Rico joke praised by Bill Maher, sparking a liberal outcry
Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe found himself under the spotlight after a joke he cracked about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally sent waves. Meanwhile, a discussion unfolded about Vice President Kamala Harris' potential performance with Joe Rogan.
Bill Maher, a fellow comedian, praised Hinchcliffe's controversial Puerto Rico joke that caused quite a stir in political circles during Trump's 2024 campaign rally at Madison Square Garden.
Hinchcliffe's remark at the Trump rally went something like this: "I don't know if you guys know this, but there's literally a floating island of garbage in the ocean... I think it's called Puerto Rico."
Hinchcliffe shared the story behind the joke on Maher's podcast, "Club Random." He explained that the joke was a part of a larger joke, intended to shed light on the world's problems, including the island of plastic trash as big as Texas.
Bill Maher acknowledged the insulting nature of the joke to Puerto Ricans but justified it by stating that comedy involves accepting insults.
Hinchcliffe clarified that his primary objective was to impress Donald Trump during the rally. Interestingly, he didn't get a chance to engage with Trump post his set.
Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, whose family hails from Puerto Rico, was among those who criticized the comedian's joke, likening it to considered remarks made towards less affluent individuals and service workers.
Even Republicans questioned the humor in Hinchcliffe's joke, with Representative Carlos Gimenez calling it "completely classless & in poor taste."
When asked about the joke, Trump expressed his lack of awareness, stating that he had never heard of Hinchcliffe. Regardless, the Trump campaign distanced itself from the joke, calling it inconsistent with the campaign's values.
However, Trump managed to secure a substantial 45% of the Hispanic vote, an improvement from the 32% in the previous election, hinting that the controversial joke may not have significantly impacted his election chances.
Now, let's shift gears. On a different note, the Will Cain Show welcomed Democrat strategist Brad Howard for a debate about Vice President Harris' potential performance with Joe Rogan. Stay tuned for more!
The article was produced by our team comprising Ashley Carnahan, Alex Nitzberg, and Alec Schemmel.
Elizabeth Heckman, a digital production assistant, contributed to this report.
References:[1] Norton, A., & Running, T. (2024). Trump campaign distances itself from comedian's Puerto Rico joke at rally. Retrieved from ABC News: www.abcnews.com/Politics/trump-campaign-distances-itself-comedians-puerto-rico-joke-rally/story?id=78553065
[2] Burke, B. (2024). "I didn't do it to sway any votes": Tony Hinchcliffe discusses controversial Puerto Rico joke on Bill Maher's podcast. Retrieved from FOX News: www.foxnews.com/entertainment/tony-hinphcliffe-bill-maher-club-random-podcast-trump-rally-puerto-rico-joke
[3] Ortiz, R. (2024). Why the Trump rally Puerto Rico joke caused a stir. Retrieved from The Washington Post: www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2024/10/28/why-trump-rally-puerto-rico-joke-caused-stir/
[4] Gomez, S. (2024). Selena Gomez calls out Trump rally comedian over Puerto Rico joke. Retrieved from People: www.people.com/celebrity/selena-gomez-tony-hinphcliffe-puerto-rico-joke-trump-rally/
[5] Rivera, E., & Martinez, C. (2024). Bad Bunny addresses Tony Hinchcliffe's 'racist' joke about Puerto Rico. Retrieved from USA Today: www.usatoday.com/entertainment/celebrities/2024/10/30/bad-bunny-tony-hinchcliffe-puerto-rico-racist-joke/6802074001/
Economy and politics intertwined as comedy and politics sometimes do, as comedian Tony Hinchcliffe's joke about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally sparked controversy. Bill Maher, another comedian, defended Hinchcliffe's joke, stating humor often embraces insults. Meanwhile, the Will Cain Show delved into the topic of Vice President Harris' potential performance with Joe Rogan, showcasing a shift from politics to entertainment news.