Comedian Tony Hinchcliffe faces mounting backlash following his widely criticized performance at a Donald Trump rally at Madison Square Garden, where he made racially charged remarks that have ignited controversy across social media and within his professional partnerships.
Hinchcliffe, known for his Kill Tony podcast, referred to Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage” and made offensive comments toward Latino and Black communities, including a stereotype about Latino families and a derogatory watermelon joke aimed at a Black attendee.
Following the event, Hinchcliffe defended his set on X (formerly Twitter), claiming critics had taken his jokes “out of context” and that he intended to make fun of “everyone.”
However, the Trump campaign quickly distanced itself from his comments, clarifying that “This joke does not reflect the views of President Trump or the campaign.”
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Now, Hinchcliffe’s brand relationships are also under scrutiny. According to Front Office Sports’ A.J. Perez, DraftKings is reportedly reevaluating its partnership with Hinchcliffe amid the backlash. DraftKings, a major presence across Hinchcliffe’s social media and podcast, began quietly removing posts associated with the comedian.
Observers noted that several promotional posts on X featuring DraftKings had disappeared, with his last remaining DraftKings-related post dating back to June. The company released a statement emphasizing that “The commentary made by Tony Hinchcliffe does not reflect the views of DraftKings.”
Hinchcliffe’s recent ESPN appearance on College GameDay also caused controversy when he made jokes about the LGBTQ+ community during a Pat McAfee kicking segment.
Perez further reported that Hinchcliffe has been a guest on The Pat McAfee Show in segments not aired on ESPN, raising questions about the visibility of his content across mainstream platforms.
As the fallout continues, DraftKings appears to be taking cautious steps to reconsider its connection with the comedian.
For Hinchcliffe, known for his unfiltered humor, the recent events may force him to confront the impact of his words and weigh their potential consequences on both his partnerships and his public image.
