The Brief:

• Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe’s offensive jokes about Puerto Rico sparked backlash and potentially impacted Donald Trump’s appeal to Puerto Rican voters for the 2024 election.
• Bad Bunny endorsed Kamala Harris, leveraging his influence to highlight her proposals for Puerto Rico and criticize Trump’s hurricane responses, boosting Harris’s campaign among younger and Latino demographics.
• The incident emphasizes the impact of celebrity endorsements on voter sentiment and the importance of sensitivity in political discourse, with Puerto Ricans being a crucial voter group in swing states.

Donald Trump’s bid to win over Puerto Rican voters for the 2024 presidential race may have been impacted by a controversial comment made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a New York City rally. On Sunday, Hinchcliffe’s attempted “joke” about Puerto Rico fell flat to those outside of Madison Square Garden.

At Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally, podcast host and comedian Kill Tony referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” during his set.

Notably, four percent of Pennsylvanians are Puerto Rican.

Around 500,000 people. pic.twitter.com/txE3UD0QVE

— Yashar Ali 🐘 (@yashar) October 27, 2024

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He remarked, “There’s a lot going on. Like, 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.” Additionally, he made insensitive jokes about Latinos during his performance, which quickly circulated on social media, leading to widespread criticism.

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In an unexpected twist, globally renowned Puerto Rican artist Bad Bunny addressed his 45 million fan base by throwing his support behind Kamala Harris shortly after the incident. The musician leveraged his substantial influence by sharing content favorable to Harris to his Instagram followers, including her proposals for Puerto Rico and criticisms of Trump’s response to hurricane disasters on the island.

This endorsement from Bad Bunny, who has previously maintained a relatively neutral stance on political matters not directly affecting Puerto Rico, signals a significant boost for the Harris campaign. His decision to publicly back Harris highlights the potential impact celebrity endorsements can have on voter sentiment, especially among younger and Latino demographics.

The fallout from Hinchcliffe’s remarks underscores the importance of sensitivity in political discourse and the powerful role social media can play in shaping public opinion. As celebrities like Bad Bunny and others voice their disapproval, it becomes clear that derogatory comments can significantly sway voter attitudes and potentially alter the course of an election.

With Puerto Ricans residing in crucial swing states across the U.S., their influence in upcoming elections cannot be underestimated. The reactions to Hinchcliffe’s comments from both celebrities and voters alike reflect growing concerns over political rhetoric and its implications for community relations and electoral outcomes.

What impact do you think celebrity endorsements, like Bad Bunny’s support for Kamala Harris, have on voter sentiment and election outcomes?

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