Jon Stewart came to the defense of comedian Tony Hinchcliffe on Monday’s The Daily Show following backlash over Hinchcliffe’s jokes at Donald Trump’s Madison Square Garden rally. Hinchcliffe’s set, which included a controversial joke labeling Puerto Rico as a “floating island of garbage,” was widely criticized across media outlets and by public figures, including entertainers Bad Bunny and Jennifer Lopez, as well as political figures like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Stewart highlighted the media’s intense focus on the performance, showing clips of network anchors condemning Hinchcliffe’s remarks.
Stewart admitted the choice to bring a roast comedian to a rally could be seen as a questionable political move. “In retrospect, having a roast comedian come to a political rally a week before election day… probably not the best decision by the campaign politically,” he stated, but added that Hinchcliffe’s humor was consistent with his style, saying, “to be fair, the guy’s just really doing what he does.”
Defending Hinchcliffe, Stewart expressed his personal amusement with the comedian, admitting, “There’s something wrong with me. I find that guy very funny. I’m sorry, I don’t know what to tell you.” Stewart went on to suggest that it would be as unreasonable to ask Hinchcliffe not to do roast comedy as it would be to invite Beyoncé to an event and not expect her to perform.
Stewart’s comments shed light on the fine line between humor and offense in political events, where controversial satire can quickly draw widespread reactions. The event, which included appearances by Tucker Carlson and Rudy Giuliani, remains a focal point for debate around the role of humor in politics and the risks involved in combining entertainment with political messaging.
