Comic Tony Hinchcliffe is apologising “to completely no one” for his controversial joke about Puerto Rico, which he likened final month to “a floating island of rubbish” whereas endorsing Donald Trump for president with a stand-up set at New York Metropolis’s Madison Sq. Backyard.
Within the newest episode of his Kill Tony podcast, which was recorded the day after the rally however debuted on Monday, Hinchcliffe stated the set was “about free speech” and rued being “beneath assault” by the pundits, celebrities and social media customers who deemed the joke racist.
“I referenced Puerto Rico, which at the moment has a landfill downside by which all of their landfills are stuffed to the brim,” stated Hinchcliffe on the podcast, which was recorded at Joe Rogan’s comedy membership in Austin, Texas. “I’m the one one that knew about this, sadly.”
Environmentalist bloggers and regional shops have famous that Puerto Rico does have an precise downside concerning its rubbish, and {that a} objective set in 1992 to extend the recycling fee to 35% has reportedly solely reached between 9% and 14%.
“With that stated, I simply need to say that I like Puerto Ricans, they’re very sensible individuals — they’re sensible, they’re avenue sensible, they’re sensible sufficient to know once they’re getting used as political fodder,” stated Hinchcliffe on the podcast. “Proper now that’s taking place.”
Hinchcliffe had set his joke up by welcoming migrants “with open arms,” earlier than laughingly utilizing these arms to wave stated migrants away. He then famous “there’s so much occurring,” like “a floating island of rubbish in the midst of the ocean,” and delivered the vexing punchline: “I believe it’s referred to as Puerto Rico.”
“I apologise to completely no one,” Hinchcliffe stated on the podcast. “To not the Puerto Ricans, to not the whites, to not the Blacks, to not the Palestinians, to not the Jews, and to not my very own mom, who I made enjoyable of in the course of the set. No person clipped that.”
“No headlines about me making enjoyable of my very own mom,” he continued.
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The backlash was definitely substantial, as lots of protection steered Hinchcliffe had killed any remaining likelihood Trump had on the presidency, and celebrities like Jennifer Lopez, Aubrey Plaza and Unhealthy Bunny publicly denounced the joke — or Hinchcliffe himself.
Even Rogan, whereas definitely supportive of his controversial protégé, argued within the aftermath of the outrage that his stand-up ought to solely be carried out at comedy venues — and never at political rallies — however that Hinchcliffe merely delivered the crass humor he’s identified for.
The native Ohioan is finest identified for his podcast, which had packed Madison Sq. Backyard for 2 nights of sold-out reveals in a row the month earlier than Trump’s rally, but additionally broke a Netflix viewing file with “The Roast of Tom Brady” earlier this 12 months.
“Maybe that venue at the moment wasn’t one of the best fucking place to do that set at,” stated Hinchcliffe in the course of the podcast. “However in any matter, to the mainstream media and to anyone attempting to slander me on-line: That’s what I do, and that’s by no means going to vary.”
