Image Credits: DAVID BECKER/AFP via Getty Images
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Jennifer Lopez took a bold stand in Las Vegas on October 31, speaking out against recent anti-Puerto Rican remarks made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe at a Trump campaign rally in New York. The Atlas actress and singer, who was raised in the Bronx by Puerto Rican parents, joined Kamala Harris in urging the Latino community to vote and rally against what she described as “divisive” rhetoric from the Trump campaign.
Jennifer Lopez’s bold statement:
During her address, Lopez, 55, criticized Hinchcliffe’s comments from an October 27 rally at Madison Square Garden, where he referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” Lopez condemned the remarks as emblematic of the Trump campaign’s disregard for Puerto Ricans and Latinos as a whole, saying, “It wasn’t just Puerto Ricans who were offended that day, okay? It was every Latino in this country, it was humanity and anyone of decent character.”
Lopez went on to stress the pride she holds for her heritage and the U.S. territory of Puerto Rico, which has long battled political neglect despite its citizens’ full American citizenship. “We are Americans,” Lopez declared to the rally crowd, emphasizing that Puerto Rico deserves the same respect as any other part of the United States. She shared her pride in her Puerto Rican roots, describing herself as a “proud daughter” of the island and urging the community to vote, saying, “Your voice and your vote matters.”
The pop icon’s remarks followed a similar sentiment expressed by The View co-host Sunny Hostin, who publicly rebuked Hinchcliffe’s statements, stating, “We don’t like what was said about Puerto Rico.” Hostin’s comments reflected a larger backlash from Puerto Rican leaders, with many criticizing the remarks as disrespectful and inflammatory. Reggaeton star Nicky Jam also renounced his previous support of Trump, stating, “Puerto Rico should be respected.”
Kamala Harris’ campaign issued a response in solidarity, releasing a Spanish-language advertisement that celebrated Puerto Rico as an island “of scientists, poets, educators, stars, and heroes,” declaring, “We are not trash; we’re more.”
Although the Trump campaign has since distanced itself from Hinchcliffe’s controversial comments, campaign spokesperson Danielle Alvarez clarified that the comedian’s joke “does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”