Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, Ricky Martin support Kamala Harris after Trump rally speaker's racist remarks about Puerto Rico: 'We are not okay with this relentless hate'
Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin were among the major industry figures that backed Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Sunday, following a speaker at Donald Trump's political rally at New York's Madison Square Garden calling Puerto Rico "a floating island of garbage."
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The blatantly discriminatory remark sparked uproar among famous Puerto Ricans and others in the media and entertainment industries.
"There is currently a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean. "I believe it's called Puerto Rico," said Tony Hinchcliffe, a comedian and podcaster who was one of many speakers before Trump took the stage at the iconic concert hall on Sunday evening.
Hinchcliffe's remarks were insulting, even for a Trump rally, as seen by the crowd's tepid reaction. Hinchcliffe answered quickly and defensively with "OK, OK" as he heard scattered boos and scant applause. Prior to his remarks, Hinchcliffe made numerous nasty remarks regarding Latino and Black people.
In reaction, Bad Bunny, a music superstar with over 45 million Instagram followers, boosted Harris' campaign video targeting Puerto Rican voters and highlighting Trump's problematic connection with the island during his presidency. Lopez shared Harris campaign material geared for Puerto Rico, as well as the same video appeal that Bad Bunny promoted.
Ricky Martin, a singer and actor with 18.6 million Instagram followers, did the same thing on his Instagram Stories account, commenting "I remember" on Harris' video. He also uploaded footage of Hinchcliffe's "garbage" remark. Furthermore, Martin said that his X postings containing the same content were being censored on the network formerly known as Twitter, which is now owned by fervent Trump supporter Elon Musk.
Trump's rally received extensive live coverage on Fox News, other news networks, social media platforms, and digital platforms. It was significant for the presence of former First Lady Melania Trump, who introduced Trump before taking the stage. Melania Trump has maintained a low profile on the campaign trail during her husband's third bid for the nation's highest office.
Luis Fonsi, the Puerto Rican artist who scored a worldwide hit with "Despacito," also uploaded the Harris video and commented.
"We are not okay with this relentless hate. It's been abundantly clear that these people have no regard for us, and yet they seek our vote," Fonsi wrote. "I purposely wrote this in English cause yes we're American too."
The event concluded with Trump and Melania Trump on stage, where a crooner performed an over-the-top version of the pop standard "New York, New York."
The Trump team attempted to distance itself from Hinchcliffe's remarks following the rally in a statement to the New York Times: "This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or his campaign," senior adviser Danielle Alvarez told the Times.
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