In the wake of a contentious comedy set at a Donald Trump rally in Madison Square Garden, comedian Tony Hinchcliffe has found an unexpected defender in Jon Stewart, the former host of Comedy Central's The Daily Show.
Hinchcliffe, known for his edgy humor and sharp roasts, stirred controversy with a series of jokes that many deemed offensive and racist. Despite the national outrage, Stewart has come forward to defend Hinchcliffe's comedic style.
According to the Daily Mail, Hinchcliffe's set included derogatory comments about Latinos, Jews, and black people. His joke about Puerto Rico being a 'floating island of garbage' has been particularly contentious, sparking widespread backlash from political leaders, comedians, and prominent Republicans. However, Stewart, in his Monday night monologue, suggested that the outrage was misplaced.
"Now obviously in retrospect, having a roast comedian come to a political rally a week before election day and roasting a key voting demographic, probably not the best decision by the campaign politically," Stewart said. "But to be fair, the guy's really just doing what he does."
Stewart further defended Hinchcliffe, arguing that the comedian's outrageous humor is a key part of his comedic style. He likened the situation to inviting Beyonc to a rally and not allowing her to sing, referencing the singer's recent appearance at a Kamala Harris rally in Texas where she did not perform.
However, Stewart's defense of Hinchcliffe has not been well-received by all. Social media users have criticized the late-night host, with one user accusing him of coming out of retirement to "do nothing but rage bait to stay relevant." Others have expressed disappointment in Stewart, with one user stating, "Jon hasnt been funny in decades so its not surprising that he finds these 'jokes' funny."
In contrast, Elon Musk applauded Stewart's stance, simply writing 'Good for @jonstewart' in a post.
Hinchcliffe, for his part, has refused to apologize for his remarks. He has accused Democrats, including Vice Presidential hopeful Tim Walz and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, of taking his joke out of context to make it seem racist. "These people have no sense of humor," he tweeted. "I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyonewatch the whole set."
Insider sources from the Trump campaign have reported that Hinchcliffe was set to cross an even bigger line before Team Trump told him to cut it out. The comedian allegedly had a joke calling Harris a derogatory term, which was removed from his set before it made it to the Teleprompter.
In response to the controversy, the Trump campaign has chosen to distance itself from Hinchcliffe. "This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign," senior adviser Danielle Alvarez said in a statement.
Hinchcliffe's joke about Puerto Rico also drew criticism from Puerto Rican stars, including Ricky Martin and Jennifer Lopez, who responded by endorsing Harris and sharing her plans for the U.S. territory. Two Florida Republicans, Senator Rick Scott and Congresswoman Maria Salazar, also condemned the joke.
Despite the backlash, Hinchcliffe has only responded to Vice Presidential candidate Tim Walz, who referred to the comedian as a 'jackwad' on a Twitch stream with Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.
The controversy comes at a crucial time, with Pennsylvania's 500,000 Puerto Ricans likely to play a key role in deciding the election. Harris has seized on the attacks as she competes with the ex-president to win over Puerto Rican communities in the tight battleground states. "Puerto Ricans deserve a president who sees and invests in (their) strength," Harris said in a clip published on social media along Hinchcliffe's comments.
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