Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin were among the notable industry figures who rallied behind Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris after a speaker at a Donald Trump political rally at New York’s Madison Square Garden made derogatory remarks about Puerto Rico.
The offensive comment referring to Puerto Rico as “a floating island of garbage” sparked outrage among prominent Puerto Ricans and many others in the media and entertainment industry. Comedian and podcaster Tony Hinchcliffe, who made the racist statement before Trump took the stage, received a muted response from the crowd and faced scattered boos.
In response to the offensive remarks, Bad Bunny, a global music superstar with over 45 million Instagram followers, shared Harris’ campaign video targeting Puerto Rican voters and highlighting Trump’s contentious relationship with the island during his presidency. Jennifer Lopez also posted campaign material aimed at Puerto Rico and shared the same video promoted by Bad Bunny.
Singer-actor Ricky Martin, who has 18.6 million Instagram followers, joined in by sharing the Harris campaign video on his Instagram Stories with the comment “I remember,” along with a clip of Hinchcliffe’s derogatory comment. Martin also expressed frustration that his posts with similar content were being suppressed on Twitter, a platform now owned by Elon Musk, a known Trump supporter.
Trump’s rally, which was widely covered across news networks and social media platforms, featured a rare appearance by former first lady Melania Trump, who introduced her husband before his speech. Melania has maintained a low profile during Trump’s campaign for a third term in office.
The event concluded with Trump and Melania on stage as a singer performed an extravagant rendition of the classic song “New York, New York.”
The support from Bad Bunny, Jennifer Lopez, and Ricky Martin for Kamala Harris highlights the importance of standing up against racism and supporting political candidates who champion inclusivity and equality. Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story.