Aubrey Plaza made headlines at the WSJ Magazine Innovator Awards by boldly addressing a controversial comment made by comedian Tony Hinchcliffe during a recent Donald Trump rally. The actress expressed her outrage over Hinchcliffe’s “floating island of garbage” joke about Puerto Rico, a place that holds personal significance for her family.
Speaking at the event in New York City, Plaza stated, “I just wanted to very quickly respond to the racist joke that was made at that Trump rally about Puerto Rico, where most of my family is from. Thankfully, my sweet abuelita wasn’t here to hear that disgusting remark.” She added with conviction, “But if she was alive today, I think she would say, ‘Tony Hinchcliffe, go f— yourself.’ And yes, the Wall Street Journal can quote me on that.”
Background on the Controversy
Plaza’s remarks come in response to Hinchcliffe’s inappropriate joke, which he delivered at Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden. This incident has drawn significant backlash, with many public figures rallying against such offensive statements. Notably, Puerto Rican singer Luis Fonsi took to his Instagram to voice his discontent, stating, “We are not OK with this constant hate. It’s been abundantly clear that these people have no respect for us and yet they want our vote. I purposely wrote this in English cause yes we’re American too.”
Other celebrities, including Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin, have shown their support for the Puerto Rican community by promoting Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris’s campaign efforts to engage Puerto Rican voters.
A Call for Respect
Plaza’s strong stance highlights a growing sentiment among Puerto Ricans and their allies against derogatory comments. In her statement, she emphasizes the need for respect and understanding toward Puerto Rico, especially in light of the island’s ongoing struggles and the political context in which such remarks are made.
