On Sunday night, comedian and podcast host Tony Hinchcliffe sparked widespread criticism following remarks at a Madison Square Garden rally for former President Donald Trump — and also stoked ire in Youngstown, where he grew up.
When he spoke at the rally, Hinchcliffe called Puerto Rico “a floating island of garbage in the middle of the ocean” and said “these Latinos, they love making babies, too. Just know that they do. They do. There's no pulling out. They don't do that. They come inside, just like they did to our country.”
The comedian defended his comments in a post on X, stating “I love Puerto Rico and vacation there. I made fun of everyone…watch the whole set.”
Hinchcliffe, who is well-known for roast comedy and the chart-topping Kill Tony podcast, made national headlines following the appearance, and was criticized by Puerto Rican celebrities like Aubrey Plaza, Bad Bunny and more.
At the rally, he also talked a bit about his 18 years spent in Ohio and mentioned his mother. He referenced Trump and running mate J.D. Vance’s previous comments around Haitian immigrants in Springfield eating cats and dogs, which has been proven false by numerous sources, including a Reuters fact-check. “My mom's a boomer in the state of Ohio, and there's no convincing her of anything,” Hinchcliffe said. “She's eating the cats she's eating, the dogs, they're eating the pets up there. It is absolutely wild times.”
Currently, Hinchcliffe lives in Texas. When he grew up in Ohio, he went to Ursuline High School, a Catholic college-prep school that’s a part of the Diocese of Youngstown.
On Tuesday, the Diocese shared a statement about the comedian’s remarks on social media. Read the statement below:
"The Diocese of Youngstown and Ursuline High School do not espouse the views of Mr. Tony Hinchcliffe and do not promote him or his ventures. There is no room in the Church of Christ, nor the world, for hatred of ones’ brothers and sisters, or for any malice to be held in one’s heart against them. Lastly, the Diocese of Youngstown and Ursuline High School reject his use of comedy as a means to attack the human dignity of others, especially the poor and vulnerable among us."
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(Photo courtesy The Comedy Store via Wikimedia Commons)
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