Nicky Jam withdraws endorsement of Donald Trump over comedian’s ‘garbage’ comment about Puerto Rico

NEW YORK (AP) — Puerto Rican reggaeton singer Nicky Jam has withdrawn his endorsement of Donald Trump successful nan 2024 statesmanlike predetermination a period aft appearing astatine a rally for nan candidate.

Tony Hinchcliffe, a comic who called Puerto Rico “garbage” earlier a packed Trump rally successful New York appears to beryllium nan catalyst.

“The logic why I supported Donald Trump was because I thought he was nan champion for nan system successful nan United States, wherever galore Latinos live, galore of america Latinos live, myself included, galore immigrants who are suffering because of nan system and him, being a businessman, I thought it was nan champion move,” Jam said successful Spanish, successful a video connection posted to his charismatic Instagram page.

“Never successful my life did I deliberation that a period later a comedian was going to travel to knock my country and speak severely of my state and therefore, I renounce immoderate support for Donald Trump, and I sidestep immoderate governmental situation. Respect Puerto Rico, Nicky Jam.”

Representatives for Jam did not instantly respond to nan Associated Press’ petition for comment.

Puerto Ricans cannot ballot successful wide elections contempt being U.S. citizens, but they tin exert a powerful power pinch relatives connected nan mainland.

The effects of Hinchcliffe’s remarks are felt connected nan land and elsewhere: One of nan biggest artists connected nan planet, nan Grammy-award winning Puerto Rican superstar Bad Bunny, threw his support down Vice President Kamala Harris, soon afterward.

Bad Bunny, calved Benito Antonio Martínez, shared a video to his Instagram relationship Tuesday detailing nan origins of Puerto Rico and its inhabitants’ prominence successful politics, sports and entertainment. The caption read: “garbage.”

“We person been fighting since time 1 of our existence, we are nan meaning of bosom and resistance,” he wrote successful Spanish. “Here we stand, present we are, and for those who hide who we are... don’t worry, we proudly punctual you.”

Ricky Martin, who had antecedently endorsed Harris, was besides offended by nan remark and said “that’s what they deliberation of us,” connected Instagram.

A typical for Anuel AA, different celebrated Puerto Rican prima who endorsed Trump past month, said he was connected circuit and incapable to remark connected Hinchcliffe’s remarks.

Jam, known for songs specified arsenic “Travesuras,” “Voy a Beber” and the J Balvin collaboration “X” expressed his support for Trump past period at a rally successful Las Vegas, wherever Trump seemed to correction him for a woman. “Latin Music superstar Nicky Jam! Do you cognize Nicky, she’s hot. Where’s Nicky?” he said.

As a result, nan Mexican pop-rock set Maná has removed its 2016 opus pinch Nicky Jam, “De pies a cabeza,” from online platforms. “Maná does not activity pinch racists,” nan group said successful an Instagram station explaining nan decision.

Maná is rallying pinch Harris successful Las Vegas connected Thursday.

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Berenice Bautista contributed to this study from Mexico City.