Who is Tony Hinchcliffe? Controversial comedian who will ‘never apologize’ for jokes
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Tony Hinchcliffe is well-known for stirring up controversy. He has built his reputation by roasting audience members, as well as poking fun at fellow comedians and celebrities.
In his recent controversy, the comedian likened Puerto Rico to “rubbish” during his appearance at Donald Trump’s rally at Madison Square Garden on Sunday night.
"There's actually a huge mass of trash just drifting in the ocean at this very moment," Hinchcliffe remarked. "I believe it's referred to as Puerto Rico."
The remarks didn’t resonate well in the stadium and resulted in significant backlash from both Republicans and Democrats, as well as high-profile figures. Even the Trump campaign is making an effort to separate itself from those comments as the presidential election approaches its final stage.
Hinchcliffe's Instagram has been flooded with furious comments from users expressing their outrage over his joke.
Based on his history, it seems doubtful that Hinchcliffe will be saying sorry in the near future.
In an interview with Variety earlier this year, he expressed his belief that comedians should never feel the need to apologize for their jokes.
Hinchcliffe has a track record of making contentious and inappropriate remarks.
He declined to say sorry after his representatives cut ties with him in 2021 due to a racial remark he directed at American-Chinese comedian Peng Dang. A video of him making the offensive comment spread widely, leading to significant backlash.
"I was confident that I hadn't done anything wrong," Hinchcliffe stated. "In fact, it wasn't even the most questionable thing I did that week. I was shocked when that video surfaced, especially since it featured one of my old collaborators. It really astonished me because it was meant to be a joke, and I believe comedians shouldn't have to apologize for their jokes."
Hinchcliffe has faced backlash in the past for making provocative jokes about figures like Sean “Diddy” Combs, George Floyd, and the collapse of the Baltimore Bridge.
Earlier this year, he stirred up controversy by delivering a harsh joke about Kim Kardashian during Tom Brady's live comedy roast on Netflix.
He was talking about the Will Ferrell film Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, particularly the iconic “Whale’s vagina” line, when he shifted his focus to reality TV star Kardashian, who was present in the audience.
“A whale's reproductive organ comes to mind, and speaking of which, Kim Kardashian is in the house. She’s been the center of attention for many black men,” Hinchcliffe remarked.
"Kim, just a tip – consider keeping your legs together. You've got more drama in public than Kendrick and Drake combined."
Although the event was intended to be a playful roast, where guests anticipated some harsh jokes aimed at them, numerous Netflix viewers felt that the comments crossed a line, labeling Hinchcliffe's remarks as "extremely misogynistic" and "offensive."
Despite the recent criticism following his performance at Trump's rally, Hinchcliffe is not indicating any intention to retreat.
He responded to the criticism from Tim Walz and Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, arguing that they had misunderstood his comments. He also suggested that the Democratic vice presidential candidate should “get over it.”
“They really lack a sense of humor,” Hinchcliffe expressed frustration. “It's surprising that a vice presidential candidate would pause from their ‘hectic agenda’ just to dissect a joke that’s been misinterpreted to appear racist.”
He mentioned, "I really enjoy Puerto Rico and often take vacations there. I joked around with everyone... be sure to check out the entire performance. I'm a comedian, Tim... maybe it's time for you to change your tampon."
The comedian spent his childhood in Youngstown, Ohio, which he referred to as "the crime capital of America" back then. He mentioned that during his time in school, he was known as “the class clown.”
In 2007, he relocated to Los Angeles and started performing in the comedy scene, serving as an opening act for Joe Rogan.
Hinchcliffe crafted humorous material for stars at Comedy Central Roast before moving to Austin, Texas, where he started the Kill Tony podcast alongside his co-host Brian Redban. This podcast offers aspiring comedians an opportunity to showcase their talent by performing a one-minute stand-up routine, which is followed by sometimes harsh critiques from the judges. Kill Tony has amassed 1.89 million subscribers on YouTube and held a live event in Madison Square Garden this past August, bringing in close to $3 million, as reported by Pollstar.
