A trifecta of Puerto Rican superstars mixed forces in a brand new opinion piece for the New York Instances to sentence the “willful ignorance” of former President Trump’s rally at Madison Sq. Backyard on Sunday.
Award-winning Puerto Rican singer Ricky Martin, singer-songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda and actress and singer Rita Moreno wrote concerning the significance of Puerto Rican historical past and affect in American tradition.
“Like us or not — and it’s obvious that some people really don’t like us — the threads of Puerto Rican culture are woven into our shared American story,” they wrote. “That story speaks loudly and proudly to tens of millions of Americans.”
The piece is available in response to comic Tony Hinchcliffe’s remarks on the rally, the place he in contrast Puerto Rico to a “floating island of garbage.”
The Trump marketing campaign instantly distanced themselves from the remark, with the previous president denying he even knew the comic earlier than the rally.
“I don’t know anything about the comedian,” Trump informed reporters Thursday. “I don’t know who he is. I’ve never seen him. I heard he made a statement, but it was just a statement that he made. He’s a comedian, what can I tell you? I know nothing about him.”
He additionally stated that the feedback will not be “a big deal.”
Amidst the backlash, Hinchcliffe defended himself, writing on X that individuals have “no humorousness.
Even widespread podcaster Joe Rogan who lately hosted Trump for an interview, stated he would have suggested Hinchcliffe towards the Puerto Rico joke given the setting.
“It’s just a bad environment for comedy,” Rogan stated. “I would have told him don’t you … dare do that joke. And when I heard he did I went, ‘Oh here we go.’”
Within the opinion essay, Martin, Manuel-Miranda and Moreno referenced Trump’s earlier actions in direction of their nation, together with his response to Hurricane Maria in 2017, throughout which 4,600 residents died.
“It takes a willful ignorance of American history, law and politics to blame Puerto Ricans for their own woes,” they added.
On the time, Trump additionally tweeted that Puerto Ricans “want everything to be done for them when it should be a community effort.”
Different celebrities of Puerto Rican descent have additionally come out to sentence Hinchcliffe’s offensive jokes and the Trump marketing campaign, together with actress Aubrey Plaza. Reggaeton singer Nicky Jam additionally rescinded his earlier endorsement of the GOP candidate after the rally.
“Our vote won’t be a reaction to racist jokes. We’ll be voting for the future of a country that could be majority-minority by midcentury. That isn’t so far away. It’s 25 years since we started singing about ‘Livin’ La Vida Loca,’” Martin, Guide-Miranda and Moreno wrote, referencing Martin’s hit tune.
The Hill has reached out to the Trump marketing campaign for remark.
