Jennifer Lopez, the singer and actress of Puerto Rican heritage, delivered a heartfelt speech at a North Las Vegas campaign event for Vice President Kamala Harris, denouncing recent comments made about Puerto Rico at a Trump rally in New York City. Lopez's rebuke came after comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, a speaker at the rally, referred to the U.S. territory as a "floating island of garbage," sparking outrage among Puerto Ricans and broader Latino communities.
Speaking to a crowd of Harris supporters, Lopez described how deeply the remarks had affected her, calling the comments an insult to "every Latino in this country, it was humanity, and anyone of decent character." Reflecting on her own heritage, Lopez said, "I am the daughter of Puerto Rico," and affirmed her belief in the "power of Latinos" and the critical role of their votes in the upcoming election.
The incident at Madison Square Garden, where the rally took place, has drawn widespread backlash, especially from Puerto Rican and Latino celebrities. Lin-Manuel Miranda, Ricky Martin, Bad Bunny, and others voiced their disapproval of Hinchcliffe's joke, emphasizing the lasting harm caused by such rhetoric. Miranda, reflecting on former President Donald Trump's previous comments about Puerto Rico, wrote on Instagram, "For many of us, this 'joke' is a reminder of how bad it was under Trump, how he treated our people in our moment of need." He encouraged eligible voters to cast their ballots for Harris.
Lopez, visibly moved, fought back tears as she addressed the crowd. "I promised myself I wouldn't get emotional," she said, pausing before adding, "But we should be emotional. We should be upset. We should be scared and outraged. We should." Lopez went on to emphasize the importance of voter turnout among Latinos, calling on them to channel their frustrations into civic action. "Our pain matters. We matter. You matter," she said, underscoring the impact of each individual's voice and vote.
Hinchcliffe, whose remarks were part of a routine at Trump's rally, has come under scrutiny for what some have called racially and ethnically insensitive rhetoric that extended beyond Puerto Ricans, targeting Black, Palestinian, and Jewish communities. Trump's campaign has since attempted to distance itself from the comments, with representatives stating that the "floating island of garbage" joke "does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign." Yet Trump himself downplayed the incident, calling the rally "an absolute lovefest" and declining to explicitly condemn the remarks.
Lopez highlighted the significance of standing against such divisive language, which she said is "a reflection of how some people still view us." She continued, "We are Americans. This is our country, too." Her comments resonated with many in attendance and on social media, where supporters echoed her call for respect and solidarity within the Latino community.
The backlash has ignited a broader discussion on the power of language in political spaces. Activists and cultural icons from Puerto Rican backgrounds, including actor Aubrey Plaza, voiced their support for Lopez's comments, condemning the "disgusting" remarks and emphasizing the responsibility public figures have to avoid fueling harmful stereotypes. Plaza, who shares Puerto Rican heritage, criticized Hinchcliffe's comment as a disservice to the resilience of Puerto Ricans.
While Trump has publicly distanced himself from the statements made by Hinchcliffe, some observers note that such rhetoric has historically been associated with his rallies. Latino advocacy groups see Lopez's comments as a rallying point for increased participation in upcoming elections, particularly among younger Latino voters. "It wasn't just a bad joke. It was a reminder of our resilience and the work we still have to do," said Luis Guzmán, a Puerto Rican actor and activist.
Lopez's advocacy reflects a broader frustration over how Puerto Ricans have been treated and perceived, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters such as Hurricane Maria, when Trump faced criticism for his administration's delayed response to Puerto Rico's needs. "At Madison Square Garden, he reminded us who he really is and how he really feels," Lopez said, asserting that Trump's past actions toward Puerto Rico underscore the relevance of this latest incident.
As the event concluded, Lopez once again called for unity and action among Latinos, highlighting what she sees as the importance of representation and voting. "The power of women, the power of Latinos, and the power of all our votes-these are things no one can take from us," she said, encouraging attendees to mobilize their communities and head to the polls.
