Who is comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who insulted Puerto Rico at Trump's Madison Square Garden rally?

NEW YORK -- Of nan astir 30 speakers who precocious warmed up nan crowd for Donald Trump astatine Madison Square Garden, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe sewage nan astir attraction for racist remarks.

“I don’t cognize if you guys cognize this, but there’s virtually a floating land of garbage successful nan mediate of nan water correct now. I deliberation it’s called Puerto Rico,” he said, later including lewd and racist comments astir Latinos, Jewish and Black people.

The comments person led to condemnation from Democrats and Puerto Rican celebrities, pinch Ricky Martin sharing a clip of Hinchcliffe's set, captioned: "This is what they deliberation of us.”

The Trump run took nan uncommon measurement of distancing itself from Hinchcliffe. “This joke does not bespeak nan views of President Trump aliases nan campaign,” elder advisor Danielle Alvarez said successful a statement.

Here's what to cognize astir Hinchcliffe, his comedic styling and nan consequence to his Madision Square Garden comments.

Hinchcliffe, raised successful Youngstown, Ohio, is simply a stand-up comedian who specializes successful nan roast style, successful which comedians return nan podium to needle a personage unfortunate pinch individual and often tasteless jokes. He has written and appeared connected 8 Comedy Central Roasts, including ones for Snoop Dogg and Tom Brady.

Even chap comedians aren't immune. At nan Snoop Dogg roast, Hichcliffe made a joke referencing comedian Luenell, who is Black, being connected nan Underground Railroad. Of nan honoree, he said: “Snoop, you look for illustration nan California Raisin that sewage hooked connected heroin.”

He had a Netflix typical successful 2016 — “Tony Hinchcliffe: One Shot” — which was filmed successful 1 continuous take. But he's possibly astir celebrated for hosting nan Kill Tony podcast since 2013, which involves some master and amateur comedians performing for a sheet of judges for 60 seconds and past enduring their criticisms.

He began opening for comics for illustration Joe Rogan, who did a three-hour question and reply pinch Trump connected his podcast past week, and Jeff Ross and is credited pinch penning Martha Stewart’s raunchy zingers for a roast of Justin Bieber.

He has faced backlash before, particularly aft he utilized a group slur successful 2021 astir chap comedian and Asian American Peng Dang during a gig successful Austin, Texas. Hinchcliffe was dropped by his talent agency, WME, and respective of his scheduled gigs were canceled. He ne'er apologized.

“I knew that what I had done was not wrong. It wasn’t moreover nan worst point I did that week,” he told Variety earlier this year. “It was truthful dumbfounding to maine because it was a joke, and my stance is that comedians should ne'er apologize for a joke, should ne'er extremity moving if everyone comes aft them and should ne'er slow down.”

Democratic vice statesmanlike nominee Gov. Tim Walz called Hinchcliffe a “jack-wad” and U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, a Democrat pinch Puerto Rican roots, called it “super-upsetting.”

Florida Republican Sen. Rick Scott, up for reelection this twelvemonth successful a authorities heavy populated pinch Puerto Ricans, wrote connected societal media that nan “joke bombed for a reason,” and “Puerto Ricans are astonishing group and astonishing Americans!”

Roast — aliases reproach — comedians often reason that location are nary lines successful drama and that everything, nary matter really sensitive, is adjacent game. Hinchcliffe responded to his Madison Square Garden group pinch a variety connected don't expect an apology.

“These group person nary consciousness of humor,” he complained connected X. “Wild that a vice statesmanlike campaigner would return clip retired of his ‘busy schedule’ to analyse a joke taken retired of discourse to make it look racist. I emotion Puerto Rico and picnic there.”

Hinchcliffe has antecedently made arguable jokes astir Sean “Diddy” Combs, George Floyd and nan Baltimore Bridge collapse.

“I deliberation group must recognize that we are professionals. And yes, sure, we woody pinch nan repercussions of what happens,” he told Variety.