Referring to a nation as a “floating island of garbage” certainly isn’t a tactic to attract undecided voters. This seems to be the approach comedian Kill Tony adopted during a Trump event at Madison Square Garden.
Kill Tony kicked off his routine by stating, “I don’t know if you’re aware, but there is indeed a floating island of garbage in the ocean right now.” Was he about to tell an offensive joke regarding refugees, especially considering Trump’s notorious comments about immigrants? It wasn’t solely an attack on immigrants; Kill specifically labeled Puerto Rico as that “floating island of garbage.”
Don’t expect a clever punchline because there isn’t one. The target of this distasteful jest was Puerto Rico. Surprisingly, the audience found humor in Kill’s words, laughing along with his performance. But the poorly considered jokes didn’t stop there—he followed up by claiming to be “welcoming” to immigrants while making a shooing motion. He further perpetuated stereotypes about Latin Americans, implying they were irresponsibly promiscuous and enjoyed “making babies.” This complaint is particularly misplaced, given that Kill’s choice of candidate promotes pro-birth views.
During a rally for Trump at Madison Square Garden, comedian Kill Tony referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage.” Notably, around 4% of Pennsylvanians are Puerto Rican, totaling approximately 500,000 people. pic.twitter.com/txE3UD0QVE
– Yashar Ali? (@yashar) October 27, 2024
Laughter Equals Racism
Kill expressed frustration over the constraints of political correctness during his performance, which is understandable in this context. His jokes come off as overtly racist without any nuance. If racism were to vanish, perhaps his career would follow suit. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton compared Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden to a “Nazi party.” Kill’s jokes seemed to substantiate her remarks. For Kill Tony and his MAGA audience, racism has become just another source of entertainment.
What’s even more alarming is the number of individuals defending Kill’s remarks. One Twitter user expressed, “He said Puerto Rico, not Puerto Ricans. None of his comments about Puerto Rico are incorrect. That’s why 4% moved to PA.” While his statement wasn’t aimed at Puerto Ricans directly, it still discredits their homeland. A nation comprises its people, including those who have migrated. When Kill makes such remarks, they implicitly involve those who continue to reside in Puerto Rico.
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