When comedian Tony Hinchcliffe found himself under scrutiny, it seemed like the critics were ready to pounce.
The vultures, as some might say, thought they had a solid case against him, and by extension, former President Trump.
But there was a crucial detail they overlooked.
It was October 27, 2024, when Hinchcliffe performed at a Trump campaign rally in Madison Square Garden. His jokes, particularly about Puerto Rico, were labeled as racist and offensive.
For weeks, critics attempted to paint Hinchcliffe as a villain shaped by Trump’s ideology, projecting fears about a possible Trump administration.
Fast forward two years, and once again, Hinchcliffe faced backlash, this time for his roast jokes delivered during Kevin Hart’s roast. Jokes about George Floyd didn’t sit well, provoking Wanda Sykes to call them “not even a joke,” while Floyd’s foundation condemned him as a “racist comedian” in public statements.
However, there’s a catch to all these allegations. A lot of footage they wanted to disregard still exists.
The smokeout
Despite ongoing criticism, Hinchcliffe has stood his ground, year after year. Maybe it’s because he has evidence to back him up.
Take December 10, 2016, for example, when “Snoop Dogg Smokeout” aired, just before Trump’s first term began.
In front of what Snoop called an “all-black audience,” Hinchcliffe kicked things off with a classic line.
“Hello everybody, you’re all under arrest,” he said.
Then there were his quips about comedian Luenell needing “two seats on the Underground Railroad” and remarks about Snoop’s estranged kids wanting to smoke pot with him. No one was offended; in fact, many were in stitches.
Snoop himself was particularly impressed. Later that year, he invited Hinchcliffe onto his podcast to discuss a surprising fact: while labeled as a racist comedian, Hinchcliffe was writing a movie for one of hip-hop’s legends.
Total recall
In follow-up discussions, Snoop revealed more about his bond with Hinchcliffe on “The Joe Rogan Experience.”
Snoop called Hinchcliffe “the s**t,” and during this talk just months before the MSG incident, he and Rogan expressed their strong support for him as a top roast comedian.
Snoop even pointed out how Hinchcliffe stole the show at an all-black venue.
Rogan was all-in on Hinchcliffe, brainstorming strategies to elevate his career, including a roast battle format combined with musical performances, which they believed could transform the comedy scene.
Snoop emphasized that audiences wouldn’t be sensitive after experiencing that.
“We’ll change the narrative,” Snoop asserted. “That’s my guy.”
The media’s narrative hasn’t swayed most viewers or comedians into believing Hinchcliffe is racist. Even Kevin Hart, who was the target of some of his jokes, has noted he was never truly offended.
Hart has stated he always appreciates humor, even when it touches on topics related to him being “on a slave ship in a bottle.”
Interestingly, even staunch Democrats like Jon Stewart rose to defend Hinchcliffe amid the storm.
It’s hard to picture anyone calling Hinchcliffe a “racist comedian” when, in reality, he surrounds himself with a diverse group of comedians and friends.
His widely successful “Kill Tony” show, for instance, includes an all-Mexican horn section and a vibrant mix of performers from various backgrounds.
If that’s not convincing enough for some, Hinchcliffe’s stance remains indifferent:
“I apologize to absolutely nobody. Not to the Puerto Ricans, not to the whites, not to the blacks, not to the Palestinians, not to the Jews, and not to my own mother, who I made fun of during the set.”
